High Time?
A surprisingly
large number of Kiwis regularly use cannabis – a world
drug report by the United Nations in 2009 put New Zealanders as the third
highest cannabis users in the world. And the same report found that New Zealand
has the highest rate of teenage cannabis use in the world.
However
cannabis causes less harm and costs the state less in health care than alcohol
or tobacco; yet it’s an illegal
substance in this country while tobacco and alcohol aren’t.
High Time? investigates the facts, fanatics and fallacies
surrounding cannabis in New Zealand and puts the question, isn’t it time we
made cannabis legal?
Central to the
story is Dakta Green – no not a new colour on a paint chart -Dakta Green used to be known as Ken Morgan
and was an electorate chairman for the National Party and campaigner for
Saturday Trading and Casinos before becoming an advocate for cannabis law
reform. He is leading the charge for cannabis to be legalized and has set up
the Daktory as an example of how it might work in the future:
“The purpose of this club
is to show my fellow New Zealanders that you have absolutely nothing to fear
from people who are part of the cannabis culture.”
The Daktory is a warehouse in West Auckland, operating as a club
for cannabis users where they can purchase and smoke the drug. Does its
existence indicate the authorities are turning a blind eye to low level
consumption:
“we’ve had police come
through our door four or five times since we’ve been open and on only one of
those occasions did they come rolling across the counter waving warrants”
Warren Young from the Law Commission has been involved
in a recent review of our Drugs Laws and supports changes to our cannabis laws:
“I think simply carrying as
we’re carrying on at the moment doesn’t really work.”
And there are numerous experts who advocate
legalisation like Professor David Nutt, former Drugs Advisor to the British
government:
“Penalizing,
criminalizing tens of thousands of people for possessing a drug that is less
dangerous than a few of cans of lager is not only morally wrong but it makes no
financial sense at all.”
Likewise local
barrister Tony Greig wants to see a change in our cannabis laws:
“Why are we persisting with
a law that does not deter people, why are we persisting with this law that only
criminalises people? It is a no brainer.”
And
there are people using cannabis who have a legitimate need – for some people it
offers pain relief or therapeutic benefits that they can’t get from
prescription medicines. However, under current legislation these people are
being charged and convicted, like Dawn:
“I've
had to deal with all of the fall out from police, the courts lawyers
corrections and my life’s just completely changed.”
What are the pro’s, con’s, costs and risks of taking a more
liberal approach to cannabis?And
ultimately, what is the best option for the health of our nation?