Give teens a break on cannabis, PM told
Researchers today told Prime Minister John Key that older teenagers aged between 18 and 21 years should get the same light-handed treatment many teenagers under 16 years get for possession of cannabis.
"The New Zealand youth justice system has evolved a system in which the majority of young people coming to attention are dealt with by diversion rather than prosecution," said Otago University researchers David Fergusson and Joseph Boden. "There is a clear case for extending these provisions to older adolescents".
While there was increasing evidence of the damage the drug does to some users, a lot of teenagers using it a little were unlikely to be harmed.
But the scientists also noted that teens under 18 were most vulnerable to the effect of cannabis, and sentencing of drug pedlars convicted of supplying cannabis should provide for more severe penalties for providing it to teens.
Improving the Transition -- a 300-page report advocating increased use of scientific evidence to underpin government policies to reduce the social and psychological problems of the nation's teenagers -- was pulled together by Mr Key's chief science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, and a panel of hand-picked experts.
"It is evident that large numbers of young people use cannabis only occasionally and for this group it is unlikely that cannabis has substantial harm effects," said Professor Fergusson and Mr Boden. "Much of the problematic use of cannabis is likely to be confined to the 10 percent -15 percent of the adolescent population who use cannabis in a heavy and abusive way".
They warned of "complex issues" surrounding the legal regulation of a drug that was widely used "but whose harmful effects are largely confined to a minority of heavy and regular users".
By the age of 21 nearly 80 percent of young people had used cannabis at least once and 10 percent had become dependent, more commonly males and Maori youth. Risks of cannabis use, abuse and dependence were higher among young Maori.
Regular, heavy or abusive use of cannabis was associated with increased risks of symptoms of psychosis and psychotic symptoms.
And "there is growing evidence to suggest that the use of cannabis may increase the risks of using other illicit drugs", the researchers said.
But there was limited evidence for the effectiveness of drug education in reducing risks to teenagers.
Future policy developments should consider a re-assessment of existing cannabis laws, evaluation of the effectiveness of drug education programmes in cutting risks of illicit drug use, abuse and dependence; and the development of best-practice guidelines for the treatment of young people having cannabis-related problems.
Cannabis is classified as a class C drug with possession attracting a fine of up to $500 or 3 months imprisonment and supplying a prison sentence of up to 14 years, but the researchers said the laws were inefficient and ineffective.
Their Christchurch Health and Development Study had shown that males, Maori and people with a previous criminal record were more likely to be convicted.
There were also problems with proposals to legalise cannabis, including an international treaty which would make it "virtually impossible".
A middle path might be reforms seen in Western Australia, which had a fine of $A100 - $A200 for possession of smoking equipment, up to 30g of marijuana, or two non-hydroponic cannabis plants. An alternative to a court appearance was to attend a cannabis education session.
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Comments and questions14
What an appalling approach by the drug liberalisers ! This stinks of Ross Bell and the nz drug foundation and their minimise harm. The P gangs must be rubbing their hands with glee with such nonsense which will lead more teens to P and other drugs. Cannibus has been proven to be a pathway drug to P. The police do nothing about idiots like Dakta Green, and guess what ? More kids smoke pot !
Clearly ignoring the problems that teens are getting into in cannabis fuelled lifestyle. This drug used habitually is causing problems for many families trying to help their kids grow up.
If you had read the report you'd see that cannabis is a small part of it, as it covers many different issues affecting the mental health of young people. Gluckman et al are well respected experts in their various fields, and have no particular agenda on drug reform.
The overwhelming message of the report is worth listening to, and one most parents would agree with: fixing a child's problems early is much cheaper than dealing with the problems they cause as an adult.
The only reason people smoke P after weed is because most people buy it through gangs and people who also sell P or do P. If Marijuana was legal then they would be buying it from shops or growing their own and not coming into contact with people who can supply them with P. And yes more teens are smoking weed but there's nothing that can be done about it. Marijuana is EXTREMELY easy to get and there is absolutely nothing the government can do to prevent NZ from smoking Marijuana. I've been smoking it for 2 years now since I was 14 and I have no desire to smoke P at all.
Yeap Legend you sound just like a dope looser.The gangs lace Dope to get the young kids hooked , and its been proved that Dope can change the mental state of teens .
Your the bloody Dope !
Great call ! I am guessing that legend is Ross Bell in drag.....
"While there was increasing evidence of the damage the drug does to some users"
This has been said for decades, there should be TONNES of evidence by now, but there's no real 'evidence' at all, never has been.
Gangs lacing Cannabis is a direct result of prohibition, what else do you expect from this doctrine? :)
To use (a very bad) analogy, one should ban 'beer' using the argument that 'moonshine' is potentially dangerous.
Prohibition = unregulated product.
Don't like it? Go bitch to your MP!
Tom
Sorry made a typo there, one *shouldn't* ban beer....
More PC garbage that fails to deal with what is broken, if it is OK for 21-25yr olds its OK for 55-85 year olds.Responsible use is not misuse. It matter not a diddle who thinks otherwise - if your for prohibition your for maximising risks, harms and unintended consequences.
That would be "loser" and "you're." It's funny when dopes call people dopes.
Now, young teens should not be smoking anything, but it is true that the fact that cannabis is illegal makes it such that those who smoke cannibis will often buy it from people who sell other far more addictive and dangerous drugs. If legal cannabis would be sold from licensed shops like alcohol. Teens wouldn't be able to buy it legally, but they would get it the same way they get their beer rather than from drug dealers who sell drugs like P.
Want to hurt the P gangs? Make cannabis legal and have it be sold through licensed shops like alcohol. Then far fewer people will ever even be exposed to P in the first place. Teens will still be able to get cannabis, but they'll get it the same way they get their alcohol today rather than from drug dealers who often sell other drugs like P.
Ignoring the problem? Did you read the article? Already 80% of teens smoke cannabis by the time they are 21. Shall we just pretend like the ban on cannabis works then? Is it better that cannabis be sold by drug gangs that also sell drugs like P, so that a huge portion of the 80% of teens who smoke cannabis by age 21 will also be exposed to drugs like P?
You and those who think like you are ignoring reality and common sense. Cannabis should be legal and regulated and sold from licensed shops. Teens would not be allowed to buy it, as they are not allowed to by alcohol, but the reality is that teens can and do obtain alcohol, just not from drug dealers. Teens are obviously already able to obtain cannabis. Would it not be better that they obtain it the same way they obtain alcohol rather than from drug gangs who will offer then all sorts of far more sinister drugs?
Practical reality is what is needed in NZ.
Agree or not with the morals / health / criminal / social aspects associated with any form of intoxicating substance, the realities are that Marijuana has been in NZ for decades and no amount of prohibition or petulant foot stomping by anyone’s agenda will eradicate it.
Teens and adults throughout all time around the globe use Marijuana – fact. Kids can get it at Intermediate school. That’s not right, nor legal, nor right – but it’s true – so the ostrich, bury the head in the sand attitude simply isn’t working either.
New tactics and approaches are needed. Trying the same things again and again will only result in the same outcomes again and again – and NZ’s approach for the last decades have not worked, nor even slowed or minimised the amount or availability of this herb.
The current “war” and stance on such a God-given herb is often just spinning wheels to appear to be doing “something” when no other idea’s / options are presented. Or the task ahead is just too big to tackle.
About time NZ had a reasoned debate on all the benefits of Marijuana and the negatives also – without the emotive rhetoric from religious / political sides pushing their flawed, personal agenda’s. It’s not like they have any moral high grounds to stand upon anyway – e.g.: church sanctioned paedophile priests, and barely legal teens escaping traumatised and naked from a gay politicians home at 3am - stopped by police. (and they think they have some mandate to preach morals and create laws for the general population – yeah right!)
http://www.leap.cc/ see this website by Law Enforcement people from Police, Courts, Hospitals, politicians across the globe, see their practical solutions / opinions. Makes for very interesting reading.
The reality is that Marijuana is in NZ and will not be eradicated. It’s been tried for decades and even with some modicum of success with some enforcement, yet this naturally growing herb is more readily available to almost anyone, anywhere, anytime. The current tactics and stance on marijuana is only wasting billions in futile enforcement efforts, turning otherwise law abiding citizens into criminals in their own home for using a God-given herb that has outstanding, natural medicinal & other useful properties.
Regulate it, tax it, work it and use the billions saved in enforcement and incarceration towards education and health. The ostrich approach only wastes Billions in futile efforts and does nothing to educate or treat the mis-use as a health issue – instead of a criminal issue. It’s a natural herb FFS and our 30+ year old Marijuana laws have been superseded by things like microwave ovens, portable mobile phones, the internet!
Come on NZ politicians – get off your soap box / moral high horse, take your head out of the sand and achieve some practical, realistic improvements involving this herb. The overflowing Courts could then offer real sentences to real criminals.
"There were also problems with proposals to legalise cannabis, including an international treaty which would make it "virtually impossible".
Nepal added an Exclusion to the UN Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs 1961, to allow Nepal to continue to produce and trade in cannabis and opium and nobody batted an eyelid.
"His Majesty's Government of Nepal in accordance with article 49 paragraph 1 of the said Convention hereby reserves the right to permit temporarily in its territory:
i. the quasi-medical use of opium;
ii. The use of cannabis, cannabis resin, extracts and tinctures of cannabis for non-medical purposes; and
iii. The production and manufacture of and trade in the drugs referred to under (i) and (ii) above."
http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=VI-18&chapter=6&lang=en
Enough of the excuses - LEGALISE CANNABIS IN NEW ZEALAND!!!
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