Subject: New Zealand: Clark Favours Relaxing Drug Law 



Pubdate: Fri, 08 Oct 1999



Source: Press, The (New Zealand)





CLARK FAVOURS RELAXING DRUG LAW



Labour leader Helen Clark is in favour of the decriminalisation of

cannabis but it is not Labour Party policy. A spokesman said yesterday

that her remarks to a Victoria University student forum on Wednesday

were a personal view, and Labour treated the cannabis issue as a

conscience matter.



Miss Clark told students it was time to relax drug law, and that she

favoured a move to the instant fine system that operated in South

Australia. She believed that allowed cannabis to be dealt with as a

health issue, rather than a criminal matter. 



New Zealand First youth affairs spokesman Brian Donnelly labelled Miss

Clark's stance "irresponsible". NZ First believed a referendum should be

held on the issue, he said.