Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2000
Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2000 The Dominion
Contact:  P O Box 1297, Wellington, New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 474-0350
Website: http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html
Author: Martin Kay

SOFTER LAW WON'T END DRUG ABUSE - EXPERT

Decriminalising cannabis will not guarantee an end to the black market in 
the drug nor a drop in abuse and dependency, a Wellington public policy 
expert says.

Karen Baehler, a public policy lecturer and researcher at Victoria 
University's school of business and public management, says cannabis buyers 
would still rely on criminal sources, and dependency could increase unless 
law changes were accompanied by more resources to combat abuse.

Writing in NZ Institute of Public Administration journal Public Sector, Dr 
Baehler says MPs should have clear goals before changing drugs laws, such 
as saving money by reducing police time and resources spent arresting and 
prosecuting users.

Another valid goal would be to respond to changing public attitudes toward 
cannabis use, though any law changes should not be based solely on public 
opinion.

Dr Baehler told The Dominion that two of the main benefits advanced by 
proponents of changing the legal status of cannabis - ending the black 
market and associated crime and reducing abuse - were unlikely to come 
about simply because of a law change.

"What you don't accomplish is a solution to either of the major social 
problems associated with cannabis," she said.

"It's not at all clear from the current evidence that we have done enough 
to try and fund treatment programmes for people who need it, and if it is 
illegal for individuals to grow their own cannabis or for commercial 
growers to supply it then the only place you are going to get it is on the 
street."

Even if cultivating cannabis was made legal, few users were likely to grow 
their own in the same way that few beer drinker brewed their own, she said.

Parliament's health select committee chairwoman, Judy Keal, announced last 
week an inquiry into cannabis and the health issues associated with its 
present status. The inquiry is seen as a first step toward 
decriminalisation of the drug, possibly to make possession a ticketing 
offence, like speeding.

A review of the law is scheduled for this term of Parliament.
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