Medicinal use of cannabis foiled by politics

THROUGHOUT the western world — Europe, the USA and Canada, Australia and here in New Zealand — there is an extraordinary debate as to the appropriate legal status for cannabis, with often sharply-divided opinion ranging from those advocating a harsh old-style crackdown through to a growing chorus of users, police and medics who want a more liberal law and a separation of cannabis from hard drug dealers.

At present here in New Zealand, these laws are the subject of a parliamentary inquiry, but it is now stalled in committee because members’ opinions are too divided to come up with a recommendation, and now the returning Labour Government has promised its right-wing coalition partner, United Future, not to liberalise the laws for the next three years.

Because cannabis is often detrimental to teenagers’ schoolwork, teachers are leading the pro-prohibitionist lobby and have circulated a petition opposing any law reform.