Pubdate: Fri, 28 Nov 2003
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/otago
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DUNNE CLAIMS REJECTED BY GREENS - IGNORING EVIDENCE

WELLINGTON (NZPA) --  United Future leader Peter Dunne is ignoring evidence 
cannabis use does not lead on to hard drugs, Green MP Nandor Tanczos said 
yesterday.

Mr Dunne yesterday labelled calls by Mr Tanczos for police to ease up on 
cannabis law enforcement to concentrate on methamphetamine, or P, as a "new 
height in hypocrisy".

It was beyond dispute that cannabis was a "gateway" to harder drugs such as 
P, Mr Dunne said.

Mr Tanczos told NZPA it was not beyond dispute at all.

In fact, a recent health select committee report had raised fears that 
cannabis prohibition would led to increased hard drug use, he said.

"If you look at the evidence of Holland - where you can buy cannabis over 
the counter - they have one of the lowest rates of hard drug addiction in 
the western world," he said.

Mr Dunne asked why Mr Tanczos was now so concerned about P when the Green 
Party alone block-voted to oppose P being reclassified as a class A drug 
this year.

Mr Tanczos said at the time he was extremely concerned about the use of P 
but reclassifying it was not the answer.

He said yesterday about half the cannabis charges laid were against those 
who had the drug for personal use.

He simply wanted police to target pushers, not users, and to target the 
worst pushers - those who also dealt in P.

"Target the manufacturers and sellers of P, rather than cannabis users," he 
said.
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