National Drug Policy review

Sheepish · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:46 pm

I'm considering typing up something to submit to them, but was unsure whether or not you have to be part of an organisation or not.
Do they accept comments from Joe Public?
I will have a go at making something cohesive and structured (complete with references to studies done on the ineffectiveness of prohibition) and post it here for comments and revisions.

Tony · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:31 pm

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2906

COST OF DRUGS TO COMMUNITY EXPOSED

WELLINGTON (NZPA) -- The cost of drugs - both in terms of money and
social impact - has been set out by the Government in its latest
policy review.

Jim Anderton, Associate Health Minister in charge of drug policy,
said the cost of drug abuse, legal and illegal, was "almost
incalculable".

He said reduced drug abuse would save millions -- for example 90 per
cent of those in jail were affected by drug and alcohol use and if
that could be reduced less jails would be needed.

Mr Anderton said in the past health effects had been the primary focus.

"This drug document tries to take a more economic and socially
orientated approach to the use of drugs. In other words what is the
cost to the community and to individuals and families both
financially, economically and socially," he said.

"Of course that has health effects as well, we're not saying health
effects are not important, but we are also widening the scope of the
document."

Mr Anderton emphasised legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco caused
far more harm than illegal drugs -- between 70-90 per cent of
criminal activity related to alcohol use and 4700 deaths a year were
largely attributable to tobacco use.

"We can get fixated with drugs a minimum number of people use but the
real problem is the ones that a lot of people use."

Mr Anderton said the new policy would reflect changes in New Zealand
such as the growing use of amphetamine -- speed-type drugs that
included P -- and party pills.

"We need to make sure our policy is up to date and that the most
appropriate responses in dealing with drug-related harm are made."

Detailed action plans would be developed once the policy was in place.

Attention would be given to at-risk groups that experience a
disproportionate amount of drug-related harm compared to the wider
population, such as young people and Maori.

The policy outlined areas of supply control, demand reduction and
problem limitation. Proposals ranged from toughening and enforcing
laws, greater education, continued work on pricing and tax policy,
and improving access to treatment. It also said more needed to be
done on collecting data.

The expanded drugs policy for the next five years, developed by the
Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs, is now out for consultation.

People can make written submissions and there will be 13 public
meetings around the country starting this month.

Now if you were to look up Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs, you would find them here: http://www.ndp.govt.nz/committees/iacd.html
I looked under what they had been looking at specific to cannabis and found this: http://www.ndp.govt.nz/cannabis/cannabis01.html
_________________
A pain free day the marijuana way.

Vote for change, Vote ALCP

Velocitor · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:01 am

http://www.ndp.govt.nz/cannabis/cannabis01.html

Awesome MrNiceGuy. When they start bringing out information pamplets on cannabis, that means that it is becoming more commonly acceptable among society.

Another victory.
_________________
Hardcore 4 Cannabis since 2004
--------------------------------------
Vote ALCP in 2008!

steveoh · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:52 am

If you read any reports by the police on drugs, they all say" cannabis is the popular illegal drug in New Zealand"

Steveoh
_________________
Regulation will set cannabis free

Freedom's just a TICK away - VOTE Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party 2008 then everyone's a winner
Contact me: steven@alcp.org.nz Party website http://www.alcp.org.nz

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2906

'It is the most popular illegal drug'
Lets break that down...
popular: meaning joe public has found something worth partaking in.
illegal: meaning the govt hasn't got a tax model for it, and is scared it will overtake alcohol sales, and prescription medication which can be taxed.
_________________
A pain free day the marijuana way.

Vote for change, Vote ALCP

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2906

chris · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:50 pm

Anyone can make a submission. See the "consultation document" available from the NDP website:

http://www.ndp.govt.nz/publications/nationaldrugpolicy20062011consultationdocument.pdf

There are also some public meetings that anyone can go to - a timetable is here:

http://www.ndp.govt.nz/policy/nationaldrugpolicypublicmeetings.html

NORML has made a submission to the Ministry of Health - read it here:
http://www.norml.org.nz/article597.html

It's not too late to have your say - email ndpreview@moh.govt.nz and say you've only just heard about it and would like to make a late submission.

paula · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:24 am

I haven't read it yet, but if its anything like the pre-consultation document then Jimbo has managed to turn the NDP into a three legged stool with uneven legs, in other words very wobbly and rather useless. Even some of the MoH people could see how badly all the media and political interference was negatively affecting public health

http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexcm/ndp-ndp-2006-2011-consultation-feedback
Publications
National Drug Policy 2006-2011: Report on Consultation Feedback
Date of publication: April 2008
This document reports on feedback received during public consultation on the review of the National Drug Policy. It encompasses views expressed by stakeholders at the thirteen meetings, hui and fono throughout the country, and in the ninety-five written submissions on the Consultation Document.
This publication is available in Word and PDF format below:
National Drug Policy 2006-2011:Report on Consultation Feedback (Word, 225 KB)
http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7479/$File/NDP-consultation-feedback-apr08.doc
National Drug Policy 2006-2011:Report on Consultation Feedback (PDF, 258 KB)
http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7479/$File/NDP-consultation-feedback-apr08.pdf
Page last updated: 24 April 2008

Tony · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:47 am

Ahh
I remember the days I thought these NDP and Jims other traveling road shows were kosha.

I guess it was when one would hear some presenters , Police , MOH , Experts in a variety of fields. ( few if any pro cannabis advocates ) and the others on the junket ..

All word perfect to adhere to the Jim Anderton view of the devil weed.

Any counter view is quickly avoided .

Then to sit down with a coffee or drink after the event with these same people and get to hear what they really think..

Does make you wonder why they bother..It would save a few hundred thousand if Jim just wrote the outcomes and they avoided the road trips and consultations ..

tony


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