 | Elections: Cannabis Part of Byelection Campaign |
 The by-election in Te Tai Hauauru, caused when Tariana Turia resigned from Parliament to start a new Maori party, brought cannabis policy into the headlines, and cannabis is very much an issue in the campaign, writes PHIL SAXBY in NORML News Winter 2004.
0800 elections
elections.govt.nz
TE TAI HAUAURU
enrol to vote!
The campaign in Te Tai Hauauru was supposed to be about the new party and especially the foreshore issue, but the spotlight went on cannabis when Tariana was challenged by the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) to support law reform.
United Future's determination to stop any change to the legal status of cannabis, in defiance of Health Select Committee findings in 1998 and 2003, is well known. The United Future mish-mash of traditionalist Christians, fake "doctors" and rally drivers will probably depart into political oblivion, but others may take their place. Its important that ALL MPs get to hear the message that law reform is needed. AND - make sure you and your friends are on the electoral roll!
Medicinal cannabis was raised as an issue in this campaign. Seabed and foreshore policies maydominate the campaign but cannabis is, once again, the issue that won't go away.
The by-election could be a "shot in the arm" for law reform! Not only has Tariana Turia made a public commitment of her reformist views, the ALCP is likely to get its best result ever - second place in a field of six candidates.
Te Tai Hauauru is known to be inclined towards cannabis law reform. Under its old name, Te Puku o te Whenua, the ALCP scored its best-ever party list vote: 4.63% in 1996. In this area also, the ALCP ran a strong campaign in the 1998 by-election in Taranaki-King Country.
Even if Dun Mihaka does not reach his goal of becoming the "Minister of Marijuana Affairs", he has helped to bring this campaign to life, and given a lead to law reformers everywhere. Kia kaha to both the candidates and their campaign workers!
The former MP was forced to make public her views on the law. She opposes prohibition and supports a move away from criminalisation towards regulation of the cannabis market.The ALCP decided to stand a candidate in the by-election, and chose Te Ringu (Dun) Mihaka - a longtime activist on Maori language and human rights. NORML's policy of supporting all cannabis law reform candidates means that both Tariana Turia and Dun Mihaka deserve support for their pro-reform stands on cannabis. No other parties are standing against Tariana, although there are several minor independent candidates.
So how significant is this by-election for cannabis law reform? First, its important that cannabis policy is debated by Maori, and the by-election is helping this process as never before. Cannabis laws harm Maori far more than any other group in society (see box above for details!) and a clear alternative vision is needed.
Maori will reject the present laws when it becomes obvious that the law does far more harm than good. Racist in practice, prohibition is a blind alley from which Maori can be rescued only through leadership from within the Maori community. The by-election is helping to develop that leadership. Second, the by-election helps remind all of us that the 2005 election is not far away, and a campaign will be needed soon to turn Parliament around.
PLEASE NOTE:
Campaigns are expensive - if you wish to support the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate, write to PO Box 13486, Chch or phone 03 981 5878.
For Tariana Turia, write c/- Parliament.
DRAWING BY EVAN
LOCAL BODY & DHB ELECTIONS:
SAT 9 OCTOBER 2004
Research shows law is biased against MaoriResearch from the Christchurch School of Medicine longitudinal study shows that: - Maori are four times more likely to be arrested and convicted for cannabis offences than non-Maori, regardless of how often they used it.
- Maori have similar use rates to non-Maori. More than half of 15 to 45 year-olds and three out of four 21 year-olds have tried cannabis.
- The law is inefficient with only five per cent of cannabis users ever being arrested, at a cost to the taxpayer of more than $56 million per year.
- Arrest and conviction is little deterrent to further use - 95% of those arrested continue to use cannabis.
Professor David Fergusson concluded that "The bias with respect to Maori is of particular concern since it suggests that independently of cannabis use and previous police record, Maori were more likely to be arrested and convicted for cannabis use than non-Maori."
The Fergusson Report notes that a conviction for cannabis use can have "a real and detrimental impact on people's lives [and] reinforces disrespect for the cannabis laws - Many cannabis users are already socially disadvantaged so for them criminal penalties for possession of cannabis often entail additional costs including disruption of relationships, and loss of housing and employment".
Source: 'Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis Related Offences in a New Zealand Birth Cohort', Fergusson 2003.
|
|
|
|
| |
| Login |
|
You can register for some special extra features. | |
| Article Rating |
Average Score: 4.5
Votes: 4
| |
|
