Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 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: Ben Knight
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

DUNNE'S GOT IT HALF RIGHT

OHARIU BELMONT MP Peter Dunne is quite right to say it is time to 
replace the emotionalism surrounding the cannabis debate with common 
sense (The Post, June 8).

It's just a shame Mr Dunne isn't able to take heed of his own good advice.

Rather than approach this issue with common sense and pragmatism, Mr 
Dunne is flying in the face of the facts and common sense in 
advocating a continuation of the prohibition on cannabis - something 
everybody, including Trevor Grice and the Life Education Trust, agree 
has been a total failure in terms of protecting young people or 
reducing the harms associated with cannabis.

I only hope the members of the select committee looking into the 
cannabis laws take Mr Dunne's advice and move beyond the emotionalism 
and rhetoric that the likes of Mr Dunne and the prohibitionist lobby 
seem to thrive on.

BEN KNIGHT
Kilbirnie
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe