Pubdate: Tue, 18 Sep 2001
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

HALT TO CANNABIS ARRESTS SOUGHT

Pro-cannabis organisation Norml is calling for a moratorium on 
cannabis-related arrests until the Government decides if the drug 
should be decriminalised.

After an annual meeting over the weekend, Norml (the National 
Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) said cannabis arrests 
should be stopped until the health select committee completed its 
inquiry into the details of a possible law change.

President Chris Fowlie, who was recently arrested and charged with 
possession of cannabis, said police were targeting people to catch 
them with the drug.

"The inquiry has been told that the police do not go around looking 
for cannabis smokers, but that's exactly what happened to me.

"We urge the Government to consider the merits of an amnesty on 
cannabis arrests so that average New Zealanders can present their 
evidence without fear of retribution," he said.

Former New Zealand First MP and Youth Affairs Minister Deborah 
Morris, now a spokeswoman for the organisation, said the moratorium 
was needed to encourage "open and honest debate" about cannabis 
issues while a possible law change was considered.
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MAP posted-by: Josh