ACT figures divided over decriminalisation of cannabis

I'm not saying cannabis is for everyone, however it has far less impact that well lets say alcohol.. how many people die of canabis poisoning compared to alcohol? on an average weekend compare the number of criminal offences under the influence of alcohol to canabis.. ive smoked regularly for the past 7 years and managed to get a masters with honours degree, its obviously greatly effected me. the only arguement people have is its illegal, yeah its illegal but it doesnt make it right. stop wasting time on trying to remove something thats never going to be removed and focus on things that are real issues, such as alcohol which they sell at every second shop and causes far more damage both to individuals and the community as a whole. mind my french but fuck off you old conservative pricks and think about it!

There should be a place where the public can submit there thoughts on the subject, and change the law for ourselves. After all don't the people supposedly hold the power in a democracy??? I'm sure we will see a huge amount of support to decriminalize something which should never have been made illegal in the first place.

It is really quite simple - You either support Organised Crime via Prohibition; or you dismantle it through Repeal of Laws. It is the same as with prohibition of alcohol last century, except Cannabis is in fact a far safer drug than Alcohol. Your kids can't overdose on it, no matter how much they may smoke - whereas with Alcohol they could be dead after a bottle of Scotch. I know what I would prefer my kids to use - I just wish they did not have to face the bias and abuse of the police and prosecution.

This whole thing seems a bit nuts. Banks saying "the people of Epsom don't want this" blah, blah, blah. Well, they voted Rodney Hide in a couple of times and if anybody asked him what they thought of the issue, he'd say he's all for it!

"3News txt poll came with 72% supporting Don Brash decriminalise marijuana and only 28% against it. What do you have to say about that?" It says the older generation dont know how to txt, nothing will change in this country in till more of the older generations expire, till then politicians will continue to cater to them even if the poll is 90% in support of it.

Ann, the point you leave out of your statements as do many others to make their line seem credible, is that cannabis can bring about the onset of psychosis, schizophrenia and depression IN PEOPLE THAT ARE PREDISPOSED TO THESE. Most people will NOT get these. Also Dr Brash is not promoting the use, he is saying that $100,000000 is wasted every year giving people convictions for using a substance that has been scientifically proven to be LESS harmful than Tobacco or Alcohol by a great margin and that they are still using regardless of weather it is legal or not.He is also saying DE-CRIMINALISE not legalise. So that your children that will be exposed to it and most likely at least try it will not get a conviction so will not have their future lives ruined by a system that is not working.People need to take their preconceived ideas about cannabis that they most likely have got, not by any actual facts or experiences but more by the negative way it has been portrayed by the Govt and the media. Open your eyes, give credible reasons, not just "its another drug" " we don't want to encourage our kids" think about your kids going to the local gang house to buy this plant, being exposed to harder drugs, and having direct contact with criminals just for a recreational product safer than the wine beer and spirits that so many middle aged New Zealanders abuse now.

@ Ann: firstly it is people who are predisposed to mental illness who will be affect in this way by cannabis and you're correct insofar as it is a small percentage. However, it does not follow that we must continue to ban a substance that affects a negligible minority in this way. After all we don't ban peanuts even though some people can die from eating them.

Good on you Banksy for standing firm. I agree with you 100%.

Ann is totally correct, unfortunately Cannabis does lead to psychosis and schizophrenia and there is evidence to indicate that people with those conditions have committed self harm and murder. Cannabis was the trigger and it is wrong to suggest that no one has been harmed by cannabis. Then there is the fact that it robs motivation and destroys relationships (unless both parties are high.) Do not legalise it! Remember Brash is not too bright either and could well be a user. Mind you cannabis lowers your sperm count and that might be a good thing!

Marijuana needs to be legalised. People are living in fear, believing the government propaganda that suppresses the hemp industry, an industry that has the potential to provide much needed help to our economy, give aid to those with a terminal illness and put tobacco out of business once and for all. if you listen carefully, you will hear nothing but hot air coming out of the mouths of anti-marijuana campaigners, they seem to have all the justification in the world, but cannot explain their stance for any other reason than " it would promote the use of "drugs" to young people." however this bill is not about promoting it. The goal of this bill is to take the minor offence of the use of marijuana, and remove it. so that young people do not get their lives ruined from the start by a criminal conviction, where they were caught with a small amount of a substance that is safer than alcohol and tobacco, can help patients dealing with cancer, glaucoma sufferers and many other people with lesser conditions to live their lives, but stay away from the pharmaceuticals that have side effects. to the parents, if your child is smoking weed, there is not really anything you can do about it, they have to decide to stop when they feel it is appropriate, of manage their use so that it is used instead of alcohol. This new law would mean that you as a parent don’t have to find out your child uses marijuana when you pick them up from a police station. i know this won’t convince too many people, but you must believe me, marijuana is a good thing, it was made illegal due to the governments not wanting it to put the timber industry out of business, for too long we as a society have been forced to deal with actual criminals so that we can purchase marijuana, it needs to be legalised, mass produced with quality, and taxed appropriately.