Press release: All Media 3 March, 2000

Mild Greens deliver Class D Drug solution.

Christchurch Legalisers have recommended that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 be amended to accommodate Class D restricted drugs. The move would be "in anticipation of a probable shift in the legal status of cannabis".

Cannabis party members say that Parliament's marijuana law review will necessitate the removal of marijuana from Class C criminal status, within a "health promotion context"

The ALCP Christchurch Branch's advice on the Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment Bill #4, draws upon the 1998 Health Select Committee Cannabis Inquiry recommendations. Christchurch Branch officials said the submission "proposed real solutions, and was an exceptional evidence-based protocol for limiting drug-related harm."

The protocol would establish an independent and trustworthy Drugs Advisory Committee to review and monitor drug interventions, for expeditious scheduling of emerging drug threats, "beyond prohibition".

The submission questions the number of hours spent on criminal enforcement of cannabis (923,000pa), and describes the Misuse of Drugs Act, as "evidentially somewhat dysfunctional and crooked."

The Mild Greens last Boxing Day, set fire to the Misuse of Drugs Act in the Christchurch City Mall, in a ceremonial show of protest against the workings of this legislation.

Policy analyst, Kevin O'Connell said that the principal Act may yet be resurrected from the ashes, and redeem itself, "if a system of unbiased and expert review and monitoring of drug dangers and interventions is established". This would be in line with Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party policy.

The submission, drafted by Mr O'Connell and council candidate Blair Anderson, suggests that "harm reduction" philosophy handling drug substitution, and safer delivery mechanisms must be considered when weighing up drug related-harm, and would necessitate a "non-punitive" approach to certain normalised drugs.

The 2 page document builds upon advice from the ALCP on the Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill, 1999, also currently under the scrutiny of the Health Select Committee.

Blair Anderson who is the ALCP council candidate for the Christchurch Shirley Ward by-election, said that legalisers inspired by some good batting from Green MP Nandor Tanzcos have "advanced the policy analytic standard to the point where reform was now inevitable".

http://www.alcp.org.nz Blair Anderson, Kevin O'Connell (03) 389 4065

=======================30=========================

Blair Anderson mailto:blair@technologist.com

Electorate Candidate, Shirley Ward By Election, Christchurch City Council http://www.alcp.org.nz/candidates/blair

Electorate Strategist, Christchurch Branch, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

Media Center - phone ++64 3 389-4065 Web site http://www.alcp.org.nz

© Scoop Media