 | NORML News: The slow pace of reform |
 Anderton says "no", Government says "maybe", 96% say Yes!
Behind the anti-drug hype, the reform process goes on. The Government's response to the cannabis inquiry is a defeat for Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne, says CHRIS FOWLIE in NORML News Summer 2003-4
On the face of it, the official response to the Health Committee's inquiry into the legal status of cannabis seems just more anti-drug hype, yet the Government is quietly keeping reform process moving, with an eye on the next election and a new parliament.
As much as Peter Dunne and Jim Anderton don't like it, this Government privately supports cannabis law reform, but they are leaving it to the Greens to publicly promote.
The fact that Jim Anderton - who hates the Greens - was allowed to make the announcement says a lot about the government's uneasy relationship with the Greens.
The mistrust between the two parties, and the fallout over GE, is what led to Labour agreeing with United Future to not introduce legislation to change the law on cannabis, and handing the drugs portfolio to Jim Anderton.
Police arrested more than 85,000 people for cannabis "crimes" during the length of the inquiry, and the Government's announcement came the day after the UK parliament voted to decriminalise cannabis.
In doing nothing, the Government has lost a real chance to lead the world in rational, evidence-based drug policy.
However, it is notable that the Government has not opposed any of the major recommendations of the inquiry report.
The health select committee's report proposed several ways to reduce the criminalisation of adult users and keep the issue of cannabis law reform alive, including:
- wider use of police cautions and diversions;
- allowing the medicinal use of approved forms of cannabis;
- the reclassification of cannabis by the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs; and
- recommending the Justice and Electoral Committee complete the inquiry into the best legal status for cannabis, and investigate police abuse of search powers.
They have also opened the door for a private member's bill on the subject.
Cannabis law reform is inevitable, but for it to happen the law reform movement must remain undeterred and step up our campaign to end the discrimination against the cannabis community.
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