Parties should take heed of warning about cannabis use

It is time for parties promoting decriminalization of cannabis to "get off the grass" and stand up for vulnerable young people most at risk from drug peddlers, says Progressive MP Matt Robson.

"We’ve heard the misguided calls by the Greens and the Maori Party for cannabis to be decriminalized which amounts to telling the most vulnerable young that cannabis is OK.

"Such a stance is a betrayal of the young. Young people deserve to be told the truth from parliamentarians and that is that cannabis use isn't OK but in fact a huge hurdle in front of young people reaching their potential," the Progressive MP said.

The Clinical Director of Mental Health in Hawke's Bay, Dr Anne Walsh, said today that that the attitude promoted by some, namely that smoking cannabis is somehow OK, is a major barrier to reducing the rate of mental illness.

"Dr Walsh said there is a need for further education about the strong link between using cannabis and mental illness but all such education programmes are undermined by the endless calls for decriminalization by parties that fail our young and our future," Matt Robson said.

© Scoop Media