Marc My Words May 30
From Marc Alexander MP 30th May. 2003
United Future NZ-Christchurch Supplement

Solitaire Angelique Palmer has been sentenced to 18 months jail on a series of drug related charges. Good! It's about time that those who sold drugs and eked out a financial benefit on the backs of the drug dependant be brought to account.

While it has been argued that the taking of recreational drugs is largely victimless and should be a personal decision, nothing could be further from the truth.

Leaving aside the overwhelming medical research which clearly demonstrates the negative physiological effects, there are dire social consequences as well.

In the case of Palmer she has admitted to charges of possessing cannabis for sale, selling cannabis, offering to sell cannabis, offering to sell cannabis oil and supplying cannabis oil.

The defence lawyer not surprisingly suggested a number of mitigating factors such as;
- She was attempting to 'alleviate' personal problems;
- She doesn't have the necessary life skills to take a stand against deeper involvement in the drug world;
- She was only a party to the offending of another;
- She has children and is entitled to see herself as a victim!

Bunkum!!

How do you lessen your personal problems by adding another one? That's like throwing diesel on a lit BBQ expecting the flames to die out.

Show me how it's possible to be better equipped for 'this world' by being out of it! Life skills can't be learnt by using illicit drugs that are specifically designed to remove you from life.

Being a party to the offending of another can hardly be an excuse. We all have the ability to choose the people we want to associate with and consider as friends. You are the company you keep.

No child should have to endure the role model of a parent convicted of anything. We choose the life we lead and if we accept the responsibility of bringing children into this world, we had better put their interests ahead of our own hedonistic and ethically flawed arbitrariness.

Compassion and accountability can go hand in hand. Palmer will be given the time to reflect on her offending, give her children a respite from bad role modelling and get her some help to overcome her problems.

Hopefully, the clang of the prison door behind her will achieve that.

ENDS

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