Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jun 2002
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2002 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: John Armstrong, Political Editor

GREENS WANT DOPE ON TABLE

The high-polling Greens want the legalisation of cannabis for personal use 
to be on the negotiating table during any post-election coalition talks 
with Labour.

However, Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said her party would not be 
making marijuana law reform a bottom-line for entering a coalition.

"There is only one bottom-line - no release of GE outside the laboratory," 
she said.

"On other matters we hope to make progress by negotiation. I can't predict 
the outcome."

Her comments follow an offer from the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party not 
to stand against her in highly marginal Coromandel if the Greens make 
legalisation of marijuana a "fundamental issue" to be dealt with in 
coalition talks with Labour.

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party leader Michael Appleby, who talked to Ms 
Fitzsimons last week, said he was not making any threats because his party 
did not see the Greens as enemies. But standing remained an option.

Ms Fitzsimons took that as a threat.

"We did not make any kind of deal. I don't do deals of that kind," she 
said. "I don't think it would make any difference to the electorate vote in 
Coromandel. Everyone knows it is a two-horse race between me and the 
National candidate."

Mr Appleby's party did not stand a candidate in Coromandel in 1999, but got 
268 party votes in that seat. In some seats where it did stand, its 
candidates received several hundred votes. Ms Fitzsimons' majority is 250.

So far, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party has 11 potential candidates 
for the July 27 election.

After the last election, Labour flagged the possibility of decriminalising 
cannabis. However, ministers got cold feet and shunted the issue into a 
select committee inquiry.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom