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| ALCP Letter to Editor: published 26 July 2005, The Press, Christchurch: Relaxing law will reduce interest in cannabis Dear Sir, You claim most New Zealanders will view the Greens' bid for cannabis partial decriminalisation as "encouraging drug use, especially among younger people" (July 21). If so, the voting population needs to wake up to the reality that NZ has the highest cannabis uptake in the world, with 80% of youth apparently trying illicit drugs by age 25 [Fergusson, Christchurch Health and Development Study]. It is arguable that the double standard is what is actually encouraging young New Zealanders to treat health and legal messages surrounding drugs and alcohol with contempt. Adults' moderate cannabis use has been repeatedly shown to be innocuous. There is no justification for this being a crime or offence resulting in 20,000 convictions a year, when the law is protecting no one. There is no evidence that legalising and regulating cannabis will increase use. On the contrary, NZ can expect deglamorised interest in drugs amongst youth, and a dramatic reduction in crime because of a return to credible law. KEVIN O'CONNELL |