11 September 2002

Tanczos tells Government 'think again'

Citing new international evidence Green MP Nandor Tanczos today called on the Government to think again over its stance on cannabis.

"The Labour / United agreement has ruled out fixing up the cannabis laws but I think that Labour Ministers are highly embarrassed by it. The latest finding from Canada once again show that the biggest problems with cannabis are either caused by, or made worse by prohibition," said Nandor.

The Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs published its finding last Thursday, Sept 5, saying that Canada should license people to produce and sell cannabis to adults. The committee said that 'the continued prohibition of cannabis jeopardises the health and well-being of (people) much more than does the substance itself', and that international evidence indicated that the law has no effect on whether people use cannabis or not.

"This is what the debate is all about. The law does not stop people using cannabis, but adds all sorts of other problems. It puts control of cannabis into the hands of gangs.

"That's why I say that people standing up for prohibition are standing up for more drugs in schools," he said.

Nandor said Health Minister Annette King's answers to questions in parliament today showed that the Government was finding it hard to justify their agreement with United. He welcomed Ms King's statement that any decision on cannabis should be made on the evidence.

"That's why making a decision not to fix the law before our own Health Select Committee has reported was such a slap in the face for parliament and the public.

"Why doesn't the Government have a look at the evidence and rethink its position?"

The Canadian report can be seen at:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Committee_SenRep.asp?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=1&comm_id=85

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