Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2000
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 David Syme & Co Ltd
Contact:  250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Website: http://www.theage.com.au/
Author: Nicola Webber

MINISTER'S DRUG CONFESSION

EDUCATION Minister Mary Delahunty admitted yesterday to having smoked
drugs.Launching a kit designed to teach children about the dangers of
drugs, Ms Delahunty confessed to smoking marijuana while at university.

The Get Wise education kit includes guidelines on what teachers should
tell students who ask whether they ever smoked marijuana at university.

When asked the same question, Ms Delahunty replied: "I expected this
question ... and the answer is yes."

When asked whether she used "kiff" or "resin", she replied: "What were
you on?

"I can remember the early days of journalism when you were on
something terrific and I wanted some of it."

According to the guidelines, Ms Delahunty should have avoided any
personal disclosures and replied: "At university many people smoked
marijuana."

The kit ­ described as a world-first education tool ­ includes
guidelines on what children should be taught about drugs including
marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, alcohol and heroin.

It lists the effects, dangers and methods of using the various
drugs.

"What we learn from history is that drug use is a normal activity in
human society," the kit says.

Opposition education spokesman Phil Honeywood criticised the
suggestion that drug use was normal.
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