Media release: NORML
16 August 2010

Top Cop’s Views on Cannabis Welcomed

The President of NORML NZ today welcomed statements made yesterday by former Detective Inspector Harry Quinn which called upon Police to open the debate on changing the way cannabis is being enforced in New Zealand.

Phil Saxby, President of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, today congratulated Mr Quinn for his position and offered full support in such an initiative.

"Over 400, 000 adult New Zealanders currently use cannabis on a regular basis. NORML NZ is in complete agreement with Mr Quinn: go easy on adult users, go easy on social supply to friends, but prosecute those who sell drugs to children."

Mr Saxby said that the raids on home cannabis growers that concluded Operation Lime provided ample evidence that police do in fact target ordinary social users, despite claims to the contrary. Out of 152 gardens found by police, only one could possibly be considered commercial.

"The NORML hotline has heard from a lot of people stung in Operation Lime and they all had small gardens. One was a recognised medical user with a Green Cross card," he said.

New Zealand continues to have one of the highest rates of arrests for cannabis in the world; the vast majority of these are for simple possession alone.
ends

© Scoop Media