Pubdate: Sat, 30 Jul 2016
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2016 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069
Author: Victoria Davis

DEFYING LOGIC

Now that it is blindingly obvious how harmful and expensive the 
prohibition of cannabis is, the new question is "Why?" Why are Nick 
Smith and Peter Dunne so determined to keep their heads buried deep 
in the sand on the realities of the cannabis issue? The recent 
Treasury information pried from government files by our astute local 
lawyer Sue Grey and the use of the OIA, supplies truckloads of valid 
observations as to the fiscal disaster The War on Drugs is creating, 
in addition to the acknowledged harm to society.

Why is this Government not even prepared to comment on these facts 
proving that we are at least $500 million dollars worse off by the 
misguided criminalisation of a once legal plant? Are these 
politicians more concerned with keeping our private jail industry 
full of youth and Maori who are disproportionately paying the heavy 
price of incarceration? Portugal has been enjoying the benefits of 
drug decriminalisation. Our Government needs to explain why they are 
continuing to defy logic on the cannabis issue when so many facts are 
conclusively undeniable?

Victoria Davis

Golden Bay
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom