26 July 2002

ELECTION 2002 Prohibitionists deserve to lose - Mild Greens

Prohibitionist bigot panderers like Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne are deeply misleading New Zealand about "cannabis related harm" and deserve to lose big time, say the Mild Greens.

As NZ goes to the polls, raw division in NZ society over cannabis was reflected at last evening's Newstalk ZB Wigram campaign closer, at the Hoon Hay bowling clubrooms in South West Christchurch.

The significant marijuana component of the meeting included loud objections from the audience - both pro and anti, and one candidate - the Mild Greens Blair Anderson - was critical of elected representatives "failure to resolve the debate according to due process, evidence and equity."

In a classic "emperor wears no clothes" scenario, MPs "strongly opposed to any relaxation in the law" including Jim Anderton and National's Alec Neill, pretended there hasn't been an Inquiry and Law Review in Parliament for the last 2 years.

Outgoing deputy PM Jim Anderton, disturbingly favoured to win the Wigram electorate, is absolutely against any reform of the law - leaving him open to accusations of malfeasance. "This is far worse than Cave Creek", say the Mild Greens.

"False leaders are circumventing the evidence openly heard by the inquiry that harm minimisation may only be achieved through decriminalisation/legalisation - destroying the black market and (alcohol/tobacco) double standards" said Mr Anderson.

It is despicable leadership in NZ which has lead to the suppression of the outgoing Parliament's cannabis inquiry and Law Review, say the Mild Greens.

It is also an indictment that the mass media have not got their teeth into the inquiry's highly suspicious concealment, just as it was due for reporting.

"The MPs on the Health Select Committee know prohibition is maximising children's access to drugs - and fuelling dysfunctional relationships within our families and neighbourhoods, however while Parliament can't talk about this subject we have dangerously poor governance said Mr Anderson, amid a sea of laughter, jeers and abuse.

While around only 20% of the audience admitted to supporting "decriminalisation/legalisation" when asked by host Mike Yardley to put their hands up, candidates who advocated reform were noted to pick up support with applause and appreciation from the general crowd of 200 or so.

The Green candidate Paul d'Spa made a well reasoned defence of the need to better educate New Zealanders about cannabis - and this is impossible under prohibition. However unfortunately the young Alliance candidate was seen to avoid knowledge of his party's reform position, despite the pleas of his friends "changed your mind, Shaun?"

Such is the prejudice in NZ that this debate remains taboo and subject to chronic mistrust and misinformation - and irresolution.

"Prohibitionist candidates have either not done their homework or are cynically treating their voters with absolute contempt - or are just plain chicken" say the Mild Greens.

"The subterfuge makes this issue infinitely more serious than may appear on the surface - for the unity of all depends on solving this seemingly intractable problem".

The Mild Greens candidate, Blair Anderson, who doubles as a bio-fuel technology R&D man -is the logical electorate vote alternative to "yesterday's man", Jim Anderton.

"Can we fix it - YES WE CAN" say the Mild Greens - by advancing "NZ Green" policy - but prohibition protectors must be stopped from peddling their toxic community criminalisation, whilst feigning to be "family friendly and progressive".

So as this sorry God's Own Nation with the highest youth suicide rate in the OECD goes to the polls in our 3rd MMP election, voters have the chance to fight the deceit and repression and make a big difference... because a vote for a "mild green" NZ doubles as a vote against prohibitionist losers.

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