Media Statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 9 December, 2003

Dunne: 25-year study versus Nandor's shared ignorance

United Future leader Peter Dunne today ended a three-day wait for Greens drugs spokesman Nandor Tanczos to "accept, reject, tell porkies about, or in any way acknowledge" the 25-year Christchurch School of Medicine study showing cannabis is a gateway to harder drugs.

"I've waited since this study was released on Saturday for Nandor and his mates to come out and tell us why the study is wrong; that their flaky world view outstrips a huge 25-year New Zealand study by a team of experts.

"I haven't heard a word. Why?" Mr Dunne asked.

"This is a particularly significant study by any standards, given its scope and duration, and frankly, it is a huge nail in the coffin of the pro-drug lobby, so loudly championed by the Greens.

"When are they going to face the facts on this issue?

"We have a study tracing 1265 children over a quarter of a century, and findings that reflect those already known around the world. The bottom line is that cannabis is clearly a gateway to harder drugs

"And against that what do we have? Nandor's flying circus with his gimmicky debates.

"Faced with studies such as this one, it takes a deliberate and wilful decision not to face the facts - and that is what disturbs me most about the Greens' approach," Mr Dunne said.

"If nothing else, I would challenge Nandor and his mates to come to grips with some of the key findings of this study.

"Deal with the fact that 71 percent of 14 and 15-year-olds who used cannabis weekly were using other drugs, and were 38 times more likely to use other drugs than their peers who didn't use cannabis.

"Deal with the fact that 17 and 18-year-olds using cannabis were nearly 53 times more likely to use other drugs than their peers who did not use cannabis.

"And then tell us again Nandor why we should legalise the drug of your choice?"

Ends.