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Joined: Feb 19, 2004 Posts: 1347 Location: Nelson area
Topics for letters Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:14 am
I thought this might be a good idea.
If you see a news item in your paper post it here, also add the e-mail address of the paper you saw it in (if it hasn't be already posted, please check) and this will allow others who write letters to respond if they choose too.
Steven _________________ Regulation will set cannabis free
Monday, 17 December 2007200712170500
Fewer drug convictions as use grows
The number of convictions for drug offences has dropped 13 per cent over the past 10 years despite the use of drugs increasing.
The falling conviction rate is largely due to a decrease in cannabis convictions, although convictions for hard-drug crime have nearly doubled.
Figures released this week by Statistics New Zealand show 3389 convictions were made for cannabis-related offences in 2006, compared with 6289 in 1997.
There were 1189 convictions relating to other drugs _ more than double the 528 in 1997.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Long, chief of the Christchurch drug squad, said use of drugs was rising "exponentially".
"I think there are more resources going into tackling serious drug problems with meth (methamphetamine or P), and we have to devote them for a longer period of time before we conduct an arrest," he said.
"If the overall number of arrests has dropped, I wouldn't think the amount of drug use has reduced at all."
He said the police focused more on the "serious" drugs, but cannabis was still considered harmful because it was stronger than it had been.
"Maybe the sentences the court gives now for minor possession of cannabis are reflective of society's view of it," he said.
Long said the number of convictions needed to be balanced against the amount of reported drug crime for which police could take no action.
The Statistics New Zealand figures draw a distinction between cannabis and drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine.
Ross Bell, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, said the figures could indicate a change in attitude to drugs.
"I think it has been a natural thing that drug-enforcement agencies recognise it is more important to focus on drugs like meth than cannabis," Bell said. _________________ Regulation will set cannabis free
He said the police focused more on the "serious" drugs, but cannabis was still considered harmful because it was stronger than it had been.
end quote.
I suppose all those people arrested before it was considered harmful and stronger feel happy about what they have been through .
The reality is the more potent the product , the less one needs to use .
They seem to consider it Ok to have a range of strengths in alcohol and have the expectation people know not to drink a 1.5 ltr bottle of op RUM BUT CAN DRINK !.5 LTRS OF BEER .
Already we are faced with variable strength product and have to suck it an see just how much to use..
And it may be senility sinking in but for the life of me I am yet to try any recent product that has anything like the kick BUDDA sticks had back in the 70's ..
But that might just be a case of the good old days.
And it may be senility sinking in but for the life of me I am yet to try any recent product that has anything like the kick BUDDA sticks had back in the 70's ..
But that might just be a case of the good old days.
tony
\No they were very strong, and dry azzz. the stuff too totally fuck you upand make you legless . really great stuff for developing paranoia with.
Back in th 60's most of the cannabis smoked in central Akl especially by the protest / uni set was budda , , something many of our older politicians are well familiar with .
I often wonder why they don't correct this misconception of general pot being stronger..
that observation fits with NZ experience too, and i'm darn sure young people were generally more cruisy and well behaved back then.
its the politicians who lead the current binge bs by example, in fact they are addicted to the alcohol and related interests' money, whose iinfluence over drug policy is utterly poisonous.
the Misuse of Drugs Act is an empty vessel that should be entirely rewritten, this time without the selective use of evidence.
it was refreshing that yet again a real (american) journalist has led her new year column with comment on drug war madness, including this "It also brings to mind Albert Einstein's famous definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Our war on drugs really is a war on people. That's true insanity.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucas/20080102/cm_ucas/warondrugsstillfailingafteralltheseyears
when will journalists here step up to the plate ? only one i recall this year was michael laws.
that observation fits with NZ experience too, and i'm darn sure young people were generally more cruisy and well behaved back then.
its the politicians who lead the current binge bs by example, in fact they are addicted to the alcohol and related interests' money, whose iinfluence over drug policy is utterly poisonous.
the Misuse of Drugs Act is an empty vessel that should be entirely rewritten, this time without the selective use of evidence.
it was refreshing that yet again a real (american) journalist has led her new year column with comment on drug war madness, including this "It also brings to mind Albert Einstein's famous definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Our war on drugs really is a war on people. That's true insanity.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucas/20080102/cm_ucas/warondrugsstillfailingafteralltheseyears
when will journalists here step up to the plate ? only one i recall this year was michael laws.
Apart from the Einstein quote I agree with all that. The cannabis law reform movement has been doing the same for years, in hope of change - does that mean we are insane?! Doing the same thing can result in a different outcome, if other factors change.
I was talking with a friend about Christchurch being a serious piss drinking city and we think thats the main reason why its the most dangerous city in NZ.
Parents of students at the Mount Hutt College should feel pleased and relieved that its teachers took a strong stance against student cannabis use last week.
But we should not be surprised by the prevalence of drug use.
What is happening in schools around this country is similar to what is happening in our communities.
Most of our schools are under resourced to adequately handle the number of student drinking and drug problems.
Mount Hutt School’s move to crackdown early and firmly is a sound attempt to head off future trouble.
What’s more, it sends an unmistakeable wake-up call to the parents to take control or face the consequences of their children being kicked out of school and/or being dealt with by police.
In 2002 the Post Primary Teachers Association discussion paper, The Cannabis Problem and Secondary Schools, proposed the fundamental aim of any school policy should be to avoid early onset of regular use and that government and parents should recognise that cannabis use in society is a complex and not uncommon issue.
The paper cautioned against the “quick fix” solution and excessive punitive actions.
So where does that leave our schools with the PPTA noting that 33 per cent of all suspensions from schools is drug-related?
Between a rock and a hard place, so it would seem.
The paper said while schools cannot afford to be seen as “soft on drugs”, punitive actions (such as suspensions) focus on effects not causes.
The message delivered then to the education lobby is as relevant now as it was six years ago - the real cause of drug use by young people lies in the wider community.
Therefore, its authors argued, cannabis policy should be driven by the real needs of the whole community, not by the supposed needs of those under 18.
The actions of the Mount Hutt School are a laudable blend of tough love and counselling – a reactive and proactive approach which the PPTA’s members might learn from.
They deserve government and community support in their drive to keep their school as drug-free as possible.
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