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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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NZ: Mayoral candidate calls for drug law changes
TVNZ Sunday 11 Jul 2010 Prast told ONE News he knows first hand that prohibition doesn't work and change is needed. He has admitted using a class A drug himself in the past but says the fact that he's a former P user doesn't change a thing in his mayoral aspirations. "I've had to wrestle with both alcohol and drugs, I've been fortunate enough to be able to get myself together, intact." Prast is best known for acting in the 1980s TV soap Gloss and for founding the Auckland Theatre Company and says he has always had a great passion for Auckland. He is calling for New Zealand's drug laws to be looked at. "I would ask anyone to cite a single incident in society where prohibition has ever worked...I think it's a very ineffective and expensive way of dealing with a very serious problem." Advertisement Prast says countries such as Portugal have "quite successfully" drastically overhauled their drug laws. But his comments have been rejected by one drug expert. "Cannabis use has increased to highest levels, overall drug use has increased to highest levels in Portugal since they've relaxed their drug laws a few years ago," says drug educator Mike Sabin. ONE News called the Super City candidates for reaction and those who replied weren't impressed with Prast's stance. John Banks says going soft is not the answer and Prast's proposition is "lunacy". Len Brown also doesn't support softening drug laws and Colin Craig says he would be hesitant to relax drug laws at all. Ewan Gilmore also disagrees with Prast and says law change is an issue for parliament. But one drug association says Prast's ideas aren't all bad and it suggests a ticket system for low level drug offences may work. "If we were to completely legalise drugs we'd see an increase in the number of people using drugs but we know from experience that a heavy criminal justice response isn't working either so there's a balanced approach in the middle," says Paul Rout from the Alcohol and Drug Association. And Prast is just happy the debate is being held. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/mayoral-candidate-calls-drug-law-changes-3638354
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