NZ Should Follow Mexico’s Example

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party welcomes Mexico enacting a law 'that
decriminalises possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and
heroine. The law defines "personal use" amounts for these drugs, as well as
LSD and methamphetamines. It says people found with those amounts will not
face criminal prosecution, but if caught a third time they will be required
to complete treatment programs, though no punishment is specified to
enforce that.' Press 22/08/09 B3

The ALCP hopes that some day soon our government will also come to realise
that prohibition only breeds gangs, corruption and violence, as has been
experienced to an extreme degree in Mexico, where over 12,000 people have
been killed in battle between the security forces and the drug cartels
since Felipe Calderon took office in 2006. Press 4/07/09B4. That many
deaths is proof of a failed policy and the realisation for a need of reform
in drug law.

Although the 'drug war' in NZ is not escalated on the same level as Mexico,
we also have our fair share of violence, murders and corruption when it
comes to the illegal black drug market here in Aotearoa.

The only way to get in control of the illegal drug trade is to take it out
of the black market and put in some type of regulation as in an R18 Dutch
Cafe Model for Cannabis and perhaps some other government/community access
system for other drugs.

It makes sense to take crime out of drugs and admit that it is a natural
human trait that we have had since the beginning of time, been interested
in experimenting with substances that give us altered states. Not just
for pleasure, but in search of extending inner knowledge of ourselves and
understanding the meaning of life for each individual.

The ALCP does not promote drug use, but promotes sensible honest policy
that will be respected by the community. Punishing and criminalising people
for taking drugs does not help help them, if that is the intention.
The issue is a health and not a criminal matter. There are 769 people in
prison just on cannabis charges, at the cost of over 48 million, consuming
10% of Corrections Budget alone, not to mention police and Justice
Department expenses. It makes sense to end this hypocritical drug war,
which has never stopped anyone using drugs and has now criminalised a vast
segment of our population. It has become a futile,expensive exercise and we
hope our New Zealand Government will wake up soon and follow, the "Mexican
Wave".

ends

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