Media statement
For immediate release

Thursday, 22 January 2004

Dunne: Pro-drug politician must go

Further evidence is emerging that the Green Party and its pro-cannabis campaigner, MP Nandor Tanczos, are on the completely wrong track with their obsessive campaign to promote greater dope-smoking among young New Zealanders, according to United Future leader Peter Dunne.

Reports out of Britain today show that doctors there are opposed to the British Government’s plan to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug next week, because of new evidence of links between cannabis use and psychiatric illness.

British psychiatrists say the evidence shows that people who used cannabis in their teens are up to seven times more likely to develop psychosis, delusional episodes or manic depression.

Mr Dunne said “In their usual arrogant ‘we know best’ way, the Greens will ignore this expert evidence and continue their campaign to make dope-smoking more common among young New Zealanders.

“Their behaviour is grossly irresponsible and Mr Tanczos, at the very least, should do the right thing by naming his drug dealer to the police just before he resigns from Parliament.”

ends

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