November 14, 2013
Disparity in cannabis law intolerable
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says it’s time to take another look at the law surrounding cannabis.
Ms Turei says the focus should be on reduction of harm rather than a blanket ban that means people who develop dependency can’t get the help they need.
She says apart from any harm caused by the drug, there is significant harm done by the law.
"Young Maori men are more likely to be stopped and searched for cannabis, more likely to be convicted of cannabis possession, less likely to get diversion for it than their Pakeha counterparts, and more likely to get a severe sentence. So we know that the cannabis laws are used to target our people and we can’t tolerate that either," Ms Turei says.
The New Zealand Drug Foundation will host an international symposium in Auckland at the end of the month to explore issue around cannabis and health.
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