Pubdate: Tue, 29 May 2001
Source: Evening Post (New Zealand)
Copyright: Wellington Newspapers (2001) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.evpost.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/142
Author: By Sean Scanlon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

CANNABIS COSTLIEST DRUG TO POLICE

Police spent nearly twice as much time and money policing cannabis as 
they did hard-core drugs in the last five years.

 From 1995 to 2000, police spent $101 million and used 1.4 million 
hours on cannabis offences, compared with $55 million and 775,000 
hours on all other drugs.

During that time, the amount spent on cannabis offences has increased 
from $17m to $21.5m a year. Spending on all other drugs has increased 
$4m to $12.5m a year.

The next most commonly policed drugs included methamphetamines, LSD, 
and painkillers such as codeine.

Green MP Nandor Tanczos said spending on cannabis was out of hand 
when compared to harder drugs such as methamphetamines. "Its a total 
waste of police time and money," he said.

"That time and money would be much better spent on investigating 
crimes of burglary and violence."

It was up to the Government to do something about cannabis 
prohibition so police had more time to deal with other crimes. He 
said the health select committee would start hearing submissions on 
the legal status of cannabis this week.

"It is clear to anyone with an open mind that the current law is 
failing to reduce the abuse of cannabis and, in fact, may be 
encouraging it," he said.

A police national spokeswoman said the time spent on cannabis did not 
detract from other areas.

"This is primarily a volume issue. The police deal with a lot more 
cannabis offences than crimes involving harder drugs.

"This is probably because of the home-grown nature of cannabis, and 
the fact that border controls help keep the importation of harder 
drugs to a relatively low level," she said.

She would not say if police thought it was more important to focus on 
certain types of drug. "The law has distinguished the differences 
between cannabis and harder drugs."

Police Association regional director Mike Wall said the association 
supported the money spent on policing cannabis.

"In my experience if it saves one person it's worth it," he said. "We 
would support increased funding to fight harder drugs and cannabis."
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe