CANNABIS-LEGAL STATUS

JUDY TURNER ( United Future ) to the Minister of Justice: Is he satisfied with the current legal status of cannabis; if so, why?

Hon PHIL GOFF ( Minister of Justice ): The Government has no plans to change the current legal status of cannabis.  That, of course, is part of an electoral agreement entered into by the Government and United Future.  The Government also has concerns that the legalisation of cannabis would risk negative social consequences in a number of areas.

Judy Turner: Is the Minister convinced that the current legal status of cannabis should be retained in light of the sudden influx of patients to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital's psychiatric unit, which staff attribute almost entirely to a particularly strong brew of cannabis use, since it brings out psychotic and paranoiac tendencies in young people?

Hon PHIL GOFF: I think that it is well established in medical research, and certainly by the Health Committee, which looked at this issue, that the use of cannabis has very negative effects on those who have pre-existing mental health disorders.  That is one of the key reasons why I think no party in this House should advocate greater use of cannabis.

Tim Barnett: What problems does the Minister see resulting from the legalisation of cannabis?

Hon PHIL GOFF: I think the effect of the legalisation of cannabis would be to make it easier to get and to drop its price, and that in turn would have an impact in terms of increasing the consumption of cannabis.  As I said in my previous answer, an increased consumption of cannabis would have a dramatically negative effect on those people who have mental health disorders.  I think it would also have bad effects on younger people, who are big consumers of cannabis, and bad effects on those who are currently heavy users of the drug.  That is also shown to have negative effects on how a person functions.

Nandor Tanczos: Does the Minister have any evidence at all that the cannabis prohibition is effective in reducing the use or abuse of cannabis; if so, could he please tell the House what it is, because prohibition does not seem to be working anywhere in the world?

Hon PHIL GOFF: Certainly, the prohibition of cannabis, in itself, will not solve the problem.  The sanctions that are available are a deterrent to using cannabis.  I believe they also mean that the drug is harder to get and more expensive-although, obviously, it is not impossible to get.  Young people, in particular, are very price sensitive, with regard to either alcohol or cannabis-the cheaper the price, the more they consume.

Gordon Copeland: Does the Minister agree that the current legal status of cannabis should be retained in light of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board annual report that notes the increasing abuse of cannabis in New Zealand by those aged 15 to 17, and does he agree that even if cannabis use was decriminalised for those over 18, those younger users would perpetuate the current black market and profiteering by gangs?

Hon PHIL GOFF: I think I have already indicated in previous answers that one of the areas that I am most worried about is younger people, and the effect that the chemicals in cannabis have on their mental development and their attitudes.  That is one of the reasons why I personally believe that we should be extraordinarily cautious before making any change in the status of this drug.

Peter Brown: Will the Minister be specific; is he saying that as a result of younger people smoking cannabis for a prolonged period of time they can develop schizophrenia, and is he aware that that illness can sometimes lead to youth suicide?

Hon PHIL GOFF: I am not sure that I am qualified to give a medical analysis of whether the use of the drug contributes to schizophrenia.  What I do know from the reports that I have read is that where a person has a pre-existing condition, that will certainly dramatically worsen it.

Gordon Copeland: Has the Minister, in his capacity as the Minister responsible for the legal status of cannabis, been consulted over the draft drug education booklet prepared by the Ministry of Youth Development for use in our schools, since the booklet takes a "harm minimisation" approach, which means that nowhere does it state that taking drugs may be a bad idea, not least for the reason that it is currently against the law?

Hon PHIL GOFF: As I understand it, the booklet is being put together by the Ministry of Youth Development.  I have not personally looked at it.  However, it is designed to promote best practice, in terms of discouraging the use of, or minimising the harm caused by, marijuana.  Obviously, people are not going to put their heads in the sand and pretend that the use of marijuana is not happening now.  The best solution is to stop using it.  The second-best solution, I guess, is education: to warn people about the abuse of marijuana-that is, the constant, regular, or heavy use of it-and to discourage that, as well.  But certainly, there is nothing in the book, as I understand it-and I am not sure whether it has been published yet-that in any way promotes the use of marijuana or states that its use is OK.

Judy Turner: What is the Minister's response to recent media reports regarding the legal status of cannabis, such as the call for decriminalisation by the leader of the new Mâori party, when the cannabis-related hospitalisation rate for Mâori is three times the rate for non-Mâori, and to this morning's ironic statement regarding the drinking age by Nandor Tanczos, who said: "Yet again we see young people being blamed for emulating the behaviour of adults."?

Hon PHIL GOFF: There are two separate questions there.  I will take the last one first.  I tend to agree with what Nandor Tanczos says, in that while it is easy for older people to say that alcohol is a problem for young people, the young people get their role models from older people.  If any members in the House believe that simply changing the law on alcohol will stop the underage abuse of it, then they are wrong.  With regard to the stand taken by the party led by Tariana Turia, whatever it is called, I would have thought-and I know that my colleague Dover Samuels feels very strongly about this-that one of the areas of the population that is most harmed by the abuse of marijuana is the Mâori community.  In that light, I am a little surprised that the leader of the National Party, Don Brash, said that he is agnostic about marijuana reform-"The National Party is unresolved.", "We haven't yet got to the point of forming a view.", "I'm quite torn on it.", I feel uncomfortable.", etc.  I seek leave to table the document I was referring to with regard to Dr Brash.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.