.....More Kiwis say no to cannabis | New Zealand

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.....More Kiwis say no to cannabis

New Zealanders have made a U-turn on relaxing cannabis laws, with only one in five people now supporting liberalisation.

Research issued yesterday by the Drug Foundation shows that just 19 per cent want cannabis laws liberalised, down from 60 per cent in 2000.

Its use is banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

The UMR Research study shows 46 per cent of the population want no change to cannabis laws, and 34 per cent want laws to be made tougher.

Wellington scored highest, with 55 per cent of people polled wanting existing laws to remain.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said that as statistics indicated more than half of New Zealanders had tried cannabis, and one in eight regularly used the drug, it was time to re-examine the issue.

"Politicians are happy to spend a lot of time on party pills and P because they know they have the public onside. They don't want to talk about cannabis, because it's not seen as a vote-winning issue."

He said there were numerous issues relating to cannabis use that needed serious consideration,including the effects on health of smoking the drug, links with mental illness, high use by school pupils, medicinal use and driving under the influence of cannabis.

Mr Bell said the foundation was taking a neutral stance on the issue of decriminalisation, as it often polarised the debate.

Chris Wilkins, a senior drug researcher at Massey University's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, said a survey in 2006 of people aged 15 to 45 found 58 per cent had tried cannabis and 18 per cent had used it in the past year. "It's by far the most commonly used illegal drug."

But Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said though methamphetamine and BZP party pills had been the main source of public concern in recent years, the Government had not put cannabis in the too-hard basket.

New Zealanders had become worryingly complacent about cannabis and a concerted effort by government and communities was needed to minimise its harm, he said.

But Dr Wilkins said there was evidence to suggest the rates of cannabis use were falling.

The increased availability of amphetamine and ecstasy was providing drug users with alternatives, which were more consistent with current social values, he said.

Cannabis was seen as a Sixties drug and many of today's professionals had taken more stimulant-type drugs, that enabled them to work and party longer.

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