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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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New Zealand: Cannabis Law Review Discussed By Parties
ccguide Wednesday 21 Jun 2000 Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2000 Contact: Address: P.O. Box 181, 52-66 Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin, New Zealand Website: http://www2.odt.co.nz Author: NZPA CANNABIS LAW REVIEW DISCUSSED BY PARTIES Wellington: The Government is discussing with the Green Party which parliamentary committee should hold a review of cannabis laws. Health Minister Annette King said yesterday she had held "useful" meetings with Green MPs on the issue. Mrs King wants Parliament's health committee to hold the review but Green MP Nandor Tanczos wants it carried out by the justice committee. Both committees contain MPs from most parties in Parliament. The National Party has said it does not want to take part in the review and, that if the Government wants to change the law, it should put a proposal before Parliament. Mrs King said the review should consider health, social and justice issues relating to cannabis laws. She said almost 70% of New Zealanders had smoked cannabis by the age of 21, which showed the current laws were not working. The Government has made a commitment to review the laws but has not made a commitment to changes. Any changes proposed by a review are likely to be put to a conscience vote in Parliament. "We need to look at whether we need to change the law, to strengthen the law and to minimise harm from this drug," Mrs King said. "Before you make any change, doesn't it make sense to do a review to see if you need change?" She said she was not too concerned about which committee held the review, as long as politicians dealt with it rather than putting their heads in the sand. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D
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