NZ Drug Law symposium highlights 'rationale for regulation'

The ALCP says that in light of the fact that for decades it has been increasingly obvious that cannabis prohibition causes far more harm and promotion of drugs than it prevents, it is irrational and wrong of the government to completely pre-empt the findings of the current symposium on NZ's drug laws being held at Te Papa Wellington.

The government has stated this week it "absolutely does not support the decriminalisation of Marijuana and is commited to a strong enforcement of that law." see: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10556944

Use of cannabis has sky rocketed under prohibition, so the assumption that relaxing the law would greatly increase avaliability is nonsense.

The ALCP say the conference is an opportunity for taking the debate about harm minimisation 'to the next level' - beyond prohibition. This would be in recognition of the obvious fact that criminalisation - particularly of marijuana - is a proven failure undermining law and order, and arguably a grave injustice.

"Prohibition is wrong because it doesn't work, and it doenst work because it is wrong" said a party spokesperson today.

The logic of legalising and regulating recreational substances has been acknowledged in recent amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act. The 2008 regulations tighten rules for the controlled r18 availability of restricted psychoactive substances which do not justify a complete ban but are still in need of some regulation.