Inquiry into health strategies relating to cannabis use

The Health Committee intends reporting on its inquiry into health strategies relating to cannabis use early in 2003, committee chairperson Steve Chadwick announced today.

The committee initiated the inquiry in September, with the intention of completing the inquiry held by the Health Committee of the previous Parliament. “We wish to complete a report on the inquiry, particularly given the large number of submissions received by the previous committee,” said Steve Chadwick said. “However, the committee has faced a considerable workload that has prevented it from focusing on this inquiry. We hope that we will be able to produce a report early next year, but have not set a deadline for that report.”

The previous committee initiated an inquiry in late 2000 into the most effective public health and health promotion strategies to minimise the use of and the harm associated with cannabis and consequently the most appropriate legal status of cannabis. That committee received more than 550 submissions, nearly 200 of which it heard orally. The committee also requested and received nine expert submissions. The current committee is not calling for further submissions on the inquiry.

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