ALCP Challenges Government to show some spine.

ALCP calls on the Labour-led government to include a question in the next postal referendum, that asks New Zealanders to vote on the legality of cannabis.

ALCP challenges the Labour government to finally act on it's two Health select Committees findings into the harms of cannabis, The 2003 cannabis inquiry received 532 written submissions, with 78 percent of those supported changes to the current way cannabis is managed. Only 17 percent supported the continuation of prohibition. The study concluded that the government "...should reconsider the legal status of cannabis."

ALCP Spokesperson, Steven Wilkinson says "This country has legalised prostitution, homosexuality, and acknowledges same-sex marriages. It is time time to deal with society's last great hypocrisy, the prohibition of cannabis. Regulation is the mature and intelligent way for society to handle the drug cannabis. he said.

ALCP calls for a question to be added into the next referendum, asking New Zealanders how they think cannabis should be managed, through prohibition or regulation?

The recently released 'New Zealand Illicit Drug Harm Index', paid for by the New Zealand Police, shows the cost of prohibition exceeds 115 million dollars, while the actual cost of cannabis to society is only 67.3 million. Steven Wilkinson says "Where is the logic in spending more to prohibit cannabis, than the social cost to society from cannabis?"

ALCP feels its high time for New Zealand to have a say in how this drug is managed in society. The referendum would allow normal people to have their say without the fear of stigmatisation, and be heard by representatives who are expected to act on their wishes.

Mr Wilkinson said "This issue needs no petition when over 370,000 New Zealanders used cannabis in 2006. The jury is in, the studies are done. Now is the time to act.

Steven Wilkinson says "Does Labour have the mettle to shake off the shackles of that flotilla of parasite parties and do one last bold act. Include the cannabis question in the referendum".

ENDS

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