Pubdate: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) Copyright: 2000 New Zealand Herald Contact: PO Box 32, Auckland, New Zealand Fax: (09) 373-6421 Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ Forum: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/forums/ Author: Rebecca Walsh POT ISSUE DIVIDES SCHOOLS AND MINISTER Secondary schools principals are taking a strong stand against any easing of cannabis laws, putting them at odds with Education Minister Trevor Mallard. Principals at a conference in Queenstown were shocked to hear Mr Mallard say he supported partial decriminalisation. They say cannabis renders children in their classrooms red-eyed and drowsy, with slurred speech, an inability to concentrate and little interest in learning. Mr Mallard said: "I do not support legalisation of the drug. But neither do I want young people to be landed with a criminal record for the rest of their lives if they are caught with a bit of cannabis in their teenage years, and I feel partial decriminalisation would address this issue." The president of the Secondary School Principals Association, Tom Robson, said that drug use was community-wide, but schools were being left to carry the can. Cambridge High School principal Alison Annan's biggest concern was whether the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation would be clear to teens. "They do insist it would be illegal for children under the age of 18, which I think is absolutely essential. I'm not sure how we can have faith in the strength of that by itself." Takapuna Grammar principal Paul Daley said young people would see decriminalisation as justification for their drug use, exacerbating existing problems. It could also put added pressure on those who say "no" to say "yes." The problem was increasing, particularly among third and fourth formers. "I see it in my school now with young people who have little desire for learning and no appreciation of the consequences." Two weeks ago, five students were suspended. One, a fourth former, was caught dealing in the school grounds to finance his own habit. Students in the Far North, where cannabis farming contributes greatly to the local economy, are at the greatest risk from drugs. Kamo High School principal Richard Abel said that when parliamentarians such as Green MP Nandor Tanczos openly supported using illegal drugs, it made the schools' job even harder. Mr Tanczos said he could understand the principals' concerns, but prohibition was not working. Decriminalisation would let the Government spend more money on drug education and rehabilitation rather than prosecutions. He said if young people were better educated, they might put off trying cannabis until they were older. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D