Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Banning legal highs misses point

Banning legal highs misses point

National and Labour's intention of banning legal highs fails to address broader issues surrounding New Zealand's drug laws, says ACT on Campus communications officer Louis Houlbrooke.

"It's obvious that synthetic cannabis isn't healthy stuff. But we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger issue - prohibition simply doesn't work," said Mr Houlbrooke.

"Potential dealers have two weeks to stockpile legal highs. When the ban comes into effect, some addicts will continue to pursue synthetic cannabis on the black market.

"Others, in being lured back to the black market, will turn to more dangerous illegal drugs such as P.

"In a best case scenario, addicts will revert to smoking ordinary natural cannabis. But this can hardly be considered a success, when these individuals, who are not seeking to harm anyone else, are turned back into criminals due to the law change.

"It's easy to identify a problem in society and say that a ban is the perfect answer. But that's a dangerous road to follow.

"Alcohol causes far more issues for Kiwis than weed, synthetic or otherwise. Yet not many New Zealanders would support a total ban on booze.

"That's because deep down, New Zealanders understand that personal freedom matters, and that freedom should take precedence over any bureaucrat's narrow-minded idea of 'safety'.

"ACT on Campus will continue lobbying ACT to address New Zealand's drug problem without restricting freedoms. The logical first step is to make legal highs disappear from the market by legalising cannabis."

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.