Young Labour calls for an honest debate

30 September 2011

Young Labour is welcoming public debate on drug law reform in the mainstream media, but has concerns that the conversation has denigrated into name-calling and scare tactics.

Recent comments by ACT Leader Don Brash calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis have been rubbished as insincere and desperate. But today Young Labour has urged both the media and politicians to concentrate on the issue that has been raised, not the messenger.

“Young Labour has been pushing for decades for New Zealand to have a sensible, evidence-based approach to drug issues. The most important thing is that we have an honest debate about it." says Young Labour activist Rory McCourt

“While cannabis decriminalisation is not a Labour Party policy, Young Labour will continue to campaign for progressive substance policies that reflect the relatively little harm medicinal and recreational cannabis has on its users”

Young Labour President Ella Hardy says the group thinks drug policy should be seen as a health, rather than criminal, issue and that policy should be evidence-based.

“It's unfortunate that the Prime Minister and National Party's response so far has been to use scare tactics to try and shut down debate,” she says.

“The current system disproportionately impacts the poor and Maori, who make up much of the prosecutions that result from the use of cannabis. It costs millions to the taxpayer in Police and justice spending, and allows the substance to be controlled by gangs.”

Hardy says the current situation is a social injustice and that it is time for us to have the debate.

ENDS

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