MEDIA RELEASE
17/04/14

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party welcomes last night's Campbell Live poll, saying it is an overdue reality check for public opinion on personal cannabis use.

With an overwhelming 84% support for an end to prohibition on cannabis for personal use, the ball is now in the court of New Zealand's politicians to act in the public interest.

There are 400,000 regular cannabis users in New Zealand, according to a recently compiled report comparing natural and synthetic cannabis by independent drug policy researcher Dr Geoff Noller.

"With international data reporting a high proportion of synthetic cannabis consumers have previously used raw cannabis, it seems likely there will be associations between the markets for these two products, including patterns of, and reasons for use, as well as demographic similarities between the two groups of consumers," Dr Noller said in the report.

The report also notes, "Cannabis consumption may also have some benefits"

ALCP Party Leader Julian Crawford agrees and said, "Demand for synthetics is obviously driven by prohibition of natural cannabis and the ALCP is the only party in New Zealand prepared to seriously address the cannabis issue this election."

"Our policy will make synthetics obsolete once and for all, by providing a safer, natural alternative," Mr Crawford said.

"No other political party has a policy to regulate the production, supply and sale of natural cannabis. None of our obvious allies on the left or the right have the guts to stand up for what the public really wants."

ENDS

Dr Geoff Noller's Report:
http://www.thestartrust.org/images/pdf/Synthetic%20cannab%20harms%20NZ%20final%20draft-3.pdf

© Scoop Media