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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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New Zealand: No Dope For Under-18s - MP
ccguide Sunday 26 Mar 2000 Pubdate: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2000 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: Address: Private Bag 4722, Christchurch, New Zealand Fax: +64-3-364-8238 Website: http://www.press.co.nz/ Author: NZPA NO DOPE FOR UNDER-18S - MP NELSON - Green MP Nandor Tanczos wants students to wait until they are 18 before deciding whether or not to use cannabis. Mr Tanczos yesterday commended Nelson secondary school principals for speaking out this week about the effects of cannabis on students. The Rastafarian MP, who smokes cannabis for religious purposes, also applauded the school's policy of taking an educational rather than a punitive approach towards students using cannabis. "Cannabis use in our schools is a real problem, and it's a growing problem," he said. "Any sensible person wants to see a decrease rapidly. "But our policy of prohibition is not doing that." The answer was in education, he said. Mr Tanczos wants law changes to allow adults over 18 to grow and possess cannabis for personal use. "My message to young people is clear," Mr Tanczos said. "I discourage young people from using cannabis, because if people are going to have problems with cannabis, they are much more likely to happen if they start young. "They should not even think about making a decision on using cannabis until they are 18." Nelson MP Nick Smith took issue with Mr Tanczos' comments. "He openly admits he smokes dope regularly, but in the next breath says 'we need education programmes to tell young people they should not'," Dr Smith said. "No amount of education will substitute for the damage he has already done in making dope cool. "Young people see straight through the hypocrisy of saying 'Do as I say, not as I do'. "It is like an alcoholic parent expecting their teenager to drink responsibly," Dr Smith said. Mr Tanczos replied that Dr Smith needed a reality check. "Nick Smith criticises me for saying we need to change the policy. The policy does not work. We desperately need to find a better way. We need to be consistent in our messages. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D
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