 | Cannabis Inquiry: Government Response to Cannabis Inquiry Report a Defeat for Prohibitionists |
 Behind the anti-drug hype, Labour are allowing the reform process to continue.
Drug Czar Jim Anderton today released the Government's response to the health committee's report on the status of cannabis.
NORML spokesperson Chris Fowlie labelled the official response a "defeat" for hardline prohibitionist politicians Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne, with the Government quietly keeping the reform process going and backing the medicinal use of cannabis.
 30/10/03 NORML says Govt response a defeat for prohibitionists
 Read the full Government Response (PDF, 834 KB)
 30/10/03 Coalition Govt won't change cannabis legal status
30/10/03 Background Notes on Cannabis Report
 30/10/03 Government response to cannabis report "a sidestep"
31/10/03 Govt Refusal To Help Sick With Medicinal Cannabis
 31/10/03 Door Opens for Medical Cannabis
3/11/03 Govt cannabis response loathsome & mealy-mouthed
Download the 2003 cannabis inquiry report here (443 KB, PDF)
Govt in no hurry to consider changing cannabis laws
NZPA, 30 October 2003
The Government has again ruled out changing the legal status of cannabis and says it is up to Parliament's justice committee to make a recommendation – if it wants to.
Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton today released the Government's response to the health committee's report on the status of cannabis, which was issued in August after a three-year inquiry.
The health committee made several recommendations covering cannabis issues but it did not recommend on the legal status of the drug.
Mr Anderton said the justice committee should consider that, but he made it clear the Government was not in a hurry.
"I believe the justice committee's priorities should be directed to more serious and pressing issues," he said.
"That is up to the committee to decide."
The Government cannot change cannabis laws during this term of Parliament, because its support agreement with United Future prevents it.
Mr Anderton said the Government "wholeheartedly" agreed with the committee that it should lead the campaign to alert young people to the dangers of cannabis use.
"We are working comprehensively across all areas of prevention, education, enforcement and treatment," he said.
The health committee asked the Government to consider allowing cannabis to be used as a medicine, but Mr Anderton said that was something scientists, not politicians, should decide.
"In order for cannabis to become an approved medicine in the future, it will first need to meet certain standardised dosage, safety and therapeutic requirements, as do all other registered medicines," he said.
British trials were being monitored, and when the results were known they would be considered.
Mr Anderton said changing the classification of cannabis was not a matter for the Government, and it was up to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs to decide whether it wanted to review the situation.
Mr Anderton was cautious about the relationship between cannabis and road accidents, although he said the Government supported a testing regime "as soon as that is practical".
He said the police were working with Australian police who were holding trials of roadside detectors.
The Government was "sympathetic" to the health committee's recommendation that suicide victims be tested for traces of illegal drugs so that the relationship between cannabis use and suicide could be investigated.
"The new coronial regime currently being developed will better enable this to occur," he said.
Principals applaud cannabis decision
Govt says not enough support for decriminalising of cannabis, principals say it would have meant younger teens trying it
IRN, NZ City, 31 October 2003
School principals are pleased cannabis is not likely to be decriminalised in the near future.
The Government says there is not enough support for a law change among politicians and the public.
Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton says liberalising cannabis laws would send the wrong message to teenagers.
Secondary Principals Association president Paul Ferris says decriminalising cannabis would have meant more teenagers trying it at a younger age, as has been the case with lowering the drinking age. He believes the impact on student learning would be huge.
Mr Ferris says the Government provides no funding for schools to educate students about drugs and that needs to be addressed.
© 2003 NZCity, IRN
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