Tue, 5 Oct 2004

Health Board candidate uncovers "non-participation" problem

Press Release: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

6 October 2004

Last year I lived at Kaikoura so I know and love the area. One thing that disturbed me when I arrived was the amount of litter around the beachfront and roadsides - particularly near the high-school. In the absence of apparent community action, I set about tidying up during my 10 months in town.

So I hope locals (of all ages), tourists and council have noticed and are helping keep up the respectable standard I attempted to set.

That problem with ‘non-participation’, I think, is symptomatic of a general ALIENATION in the NZ community:- from rule of law, health promotion, and environmentally sustainable values.

I believe there are damaging double standards surrounding certain commonplace drugs. To bully and vilify people for cannabis is a gross double standard, when you look at the damage alcohol and tobacco do, and sends a dangerous hypocritical message.

Drugs are a massive health issue and we should be focusing our attention and resources in the health arena, not funding the black market, prisons, courts and police ‘protection racket’.

I hold science and arts degrees from Canterbury University. As CDHB member, I will be advocating ‘early intervention’ (as above), inclusive, equitable, cost-effective, and evidence-based approaches.

ENDS

© Scoop Media