Compusory Drug Treatment is Harm Maximisation

The ALCP are calling on all interested New Zealanders to make a submission
on the future of New Zealand's Drug Laws. The Law Commission is undertaking
a comprehensive, once in 25 year, review of the legislation. While they
have released a 400 page document for discussion, their final
recommendations to government will follow a two month period of public
scrutiny of the proposals.

Justice minister Simon Power has preempted the Commission's report, stating
that "there is not a single solitary chance that the drug laws will be
relaxed," while he is in office. The one recommendation Mr Power accepts,
compulsory detention and treatment, will only maximise the harms associated
with drug use. While the intentions of the Law Commission are to introduce
harm minimisation measure first.

The ALCP remind Mr Power that in a democratic society the people decide
what is best for their country. Given that more than 52% of adults in New
Zealand have tried cannabis, the ALCP are recommending to the Justice
Minister that he reserve judgment on this issue until the public have
spoken.

Furthermore many significant recommendations such as the approval of
cannabis for medical use are the responsibility of the Minister of Health.
Since National has been in power, the Ministry of Health has acknowledged
the therapeutic value of cannabis and approved the THC based medicine,
Sativex. Furthermore, the greater Auckland area has recently introduced a
warning system for some minor offenses such as cannabis possession.
Finally, the Class D classification remains a regulatory option for drugs
that can be sold over the counter.

While the Law Commission report makes some steps towards relaxing laws for
drugs such as cannabis, the ALCP advocate moving cannabis to Class-D
allowing a regulated marketplace, as seen in Holland. Adults would be
allowed to buy small amounts of cannabis from licensed venues, generating
tax, eliminating the black-market trade and gateway to hard drugs. While
the Law Commission may believe this position to contravene New Zealand's UN
obligations, the ALCP point out that Holland is also a member of the UN.
Holland also has the lowest use rates for cannabis in the world.

lawcommpr.txt
The ALCP are calling on all interested New Zealanders to make a submission on the future of New Zealand's Drug Laws. The Law Commission is undertaking a comprehensive, once in 25 year, review of the legislation. While they have released a 400 page document for discussion, their final recommendations to government will follow a two month period of public scrutiny of the proposals.

Justice minister Simon Power has preempted the Commission's report, stating that "there is not a single solitary chance that the drug laws will be relaxed," while he is in office. The one recommendation Mr Power accepts, compulsory detention and treatment, will only maximise the harms associated with drug use. While the intentions of the Law Commission are to minimise harm.

The ALCP remind Mr Power that in a democratic society the people decide what is best for their country. Given that more than 52% of adults in New Zealand have tried cannabis, the ALCP are recommending to the Justice Minister that he reserve judgement on this issue until the public have spoken.

Furthermore many significant recommendations such as the approval of cannabis for medical use are the responsibility of the Minister of Health. Since National has been in power, the Ministry of Health has acknowledged the therapeutic value of cannabis and approved the THC based medicine, Sativex. Furthermore, the greater Auckland area has recently introduced a warning system for some minor offenses such as cannabis possession. Finally, the Class D classification remains a regulatory option for drugs that can be sold over the counter.

While the Law Commission report makes some steps towards relaxing laws for drugs such as cannabis, the ALCP advocate moving cannabis to Class-D allowing a regulated marketplace, as seen in Holland. Adults would be allowed to buy small amounts of cannabis from licensed venues, generating tax, eliminating the black-market trade and gateway to hard drugs. While the Law Commission may believe this position to contravene New Zealand's UN obligations, the ALCP point out that Holland is also a member of the UN. Holland also has the lowest use rates for cannabis in the world.

ENDS

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