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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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New Zealand: Cannabis Committee
Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Thursday 14 Sep 2000 Subj: New Zealand: Cannabis Committee Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) CANNABIS COMMITTEE Wellington: The cannabis debate has finally moved forward, with a parliamentary committee to look into the health issues associated with its use. A review of cannabis laws is scheduled during this term of Parliament, with decriminalising the drug the main option up for discussion. That would make being caught with small amounts of cannabis a ticketing offence, like speeding. The inquiry, announced yesterday by health select committee chairwoman Judy Keall, is the first step in the process. Ms Keall said the terms of reference for the inquiry were "to inquire into the most effective public health and health promotion strategies to minimise the use of and the harm associated with cannabis and consequently the most appropriate legal status of cannabis". Green MP Nandor Tanczos - a Rastafarian who has previously said he smokes cannabis for religious reasons and who wants to see the law changed - said he was satisfied the terms of reference were broad enough to allow vigorous and thorough debate on the issue. But National health spokesman Wyatt Creech said his party strongly opposed the inquiry. "If the Government wants to decriminalise cannabis, it should be up front about it and put a liberalising law change to Parliament," Mr Creech said in a statement. "Another select committee review is just causing uncertainty and further damage." A select committee report in December 1998 recommended the then National government look again at changing the legal status of cannabis, but its recommendation was not adopted. Public submissions on the latest inquiry close on February 7.
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