National Leader Jenny Shipley has rejected Annette King's call for National to participate in a Parliamentary select committee to review the legal status of cannabis.

"Another select committee review will cause confusion and further damage. Already most New Zealanders are confused by the Labour and Green MPs' stand on this issue making the job for police and parents more difficult.

"Principals around the country are reporting that young people in particular seem to have the impression that the law has been changed and they are acting accordingly.

"Prime Minister Helen Clark, Annette King and Nandor Tanczos have been promoting liberalisation of cannabis law. If that's what they want they should put a proposal to Parliament and let the select committee hear submissions on that proposal. New ideas and amendments can be accommodated at that time.

"National's health spokesperson Wyatt Creech has written to Mrs King making it clear National has no interest in being involved in a select committee going through a long drawn out process developing a new position on cannabis," Mrs Shipley said.

"If the Government is determined to promote a law change for cannabis they should do so urgently by putting their proposal up to be tested.

"National's withdrawal from the select committee review would mean the responsibility for proposing change to the cannabis law falls squarely on the Labour, Alliance and Green politicians.

"I intend to campaign vigorously against any change which would signal liberalisation rather than a firm message about the real dangers of cannabis," Mrs Shipley said.

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