Banks, Brash, Epsom weigh in on cannabis debate

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Banks, Brash, Epsom weigh in on cannabis debate

3News NZ

John Banks

John Banks

Should cannabis be decriminalised?

ACT Party leader Don Brash thinks so – and he’s not alone. The Green Party have been suggesting cannabis law reform for many, many years.

They’ve been ridiculed by the political establishment for it.

Now Dr Brash, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank, is saying it is effectively a victimless crime and one that costs a great deal of time, money and effort by police.

ACT is only in Parliament because they won the Epsom electorate and ACT’s candidate in Epsom – John Banks – is the former Minister of Police and a hardline anti-drugs politician.

Campbell Live talks to Dr Brash, Mr Banks and the people of Epsom

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Comments

4/10/2011 9:36:45 a.m.

Lindsay Algra wrote:

Perfect example of why when 3 news it over the channel changes. Mr Campbell has his own agenda and is not a "neutral" reporter, he obviously has his own point of view on reform and political polices. As for reform itself, change is inevitable and act i think is taking note of the up coming generation of New Zealanders. Look this "drug" cost tax payers millions of dollars to enforce, is a victimless crime and the only way its destroying our youth is from convictions and associations labeling us as criminals. The poll shows enough, 72% of cambell live watchers agree with decriminalization p.s. showing the Epsom electrical's view which is comprised of an older generations are not the views of the up coming generation of kiwis but instead the views of a retiring/dieing breed of kiwi thinking which is accustom to living in a bubble of wealth and ignorance. Good on ACT's leader for acting.

3/10/2011 2:17:05 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

Just shut up Bank go smoke your hidding stash unless you get a clean record blood sample from the doctor saying that you're a non cannibis addiction and what are the fuss about, many were been shot rope hangman to imprisonment because of the cannabis.. Why is cannibis is such a threats? but to legalised the bloody thing to a maximum..

1/10/2011 7:37:27 a.m.

s burgess wrote:

i see channel 3 is is earning their cheap loan from the government i mean tax payers.great morality from the 3 net work taking that money guess they concluded it was more important they kept in business than releasing burden from tax payers or even helping those on welfare.i wonder how many times they call act greedy this election.brash did something noble this year he changed his mind after looking at facts i'm voting act if banks is taken out by brash this year.

29/09/2011 9:20:32 p.m.

Patrick wrote:

Im male, middle age(25-30), mid level income earner, with university degree and postgraduate studies. Im gonna vote ACT this year instead of National. Ive always been a National supporter but I like Don Brash. Very smart man. With Banks behind him, I feel that they can keep National honest.

John Campbell, you need to change your interview style.

28/09/2011 2:30:47 p.m.

Katherine wrote:

It would be really good to have a like button on this as face book does...and some people here have a lot of info..would be great to have them know when we wanted to ask questions. I like what some say. I like the fact. I like ths statistics ...no the garbage you politicians feed us. And then take a view from people who live behind picket fences and don't know how the other three quarters really live.

28/09/2011 2:17:48 p.m.

Wills wrote:

An original idea my ass. The Greens have been lobbying this for years and right wingers have condemned them. Now Don Brash says it and its suddenly okay?

28/09/2011 1:36:12 p.m.

Nick johnson wrote:

Last night’s debate about Dr Brash’s personal comments about Marijuana was trivialized by you. Instead of having a serious debate about its merits you turned it into a political issue about Dr Brash’s leadership of ACT. Banks, Keys, and your-self appear to be out of touch with most Kiwis on this issue, even Obama Says “Legalizing Drugs is Worthy of Debate”. Presidential hopeful Ron Paul says “The war on drugs is a failed war costing billions every year” In May 2011 the UK Drug Policy Commission's reports that “the UK's "outdated" drug laws could be doing more harm than good and are failing to recognize that banning some "legal highs" may have negative consequences for public health, according to the leading independent panel set up to analyze drugs policy”. Also I can’t believe you let Banks away with saying he is against drugs and always has been and always will be. Firstly why would we want these sorts of people in power that cling to dogma and are not capable of changing their minds once new facts emerge, secondly Banks sold drugs (Alcohol), the drug that leads to many deaths. By comparison as a drug, marijuana is nearly unique in having several medical applications and no known lethal dosage. While adverse reactions to drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen account for an estimated 7,600 deaths (and 76,000 hospitalizations) each year in the United States alone, marijuana kills no one. The fact that people are being prosecuted and imprisoned for using marijuana, while alcohol remains a staple commodity, is surely the reductio ad absurdum of any notion that our drug laws are designed to keep people from harming them¬selves or others. Alcohol is by any measure the more dan¬gerous sub¬stance. It has no approved medical use. In fact, nearly everything human beings do?—?driving cars, flying planes, and hitting golf balls—?is more dan¬gerous than smoking marijuana in the privacy of one’s own home. Anyone who would seriously attempt to argue that marijuana is worthy of prohibition because of the risk it poses to human beings will find that the powers of the human brain are simply insufficient for the job.

28/09/2011 1:26:35 p.m.

Nick wrote:

Telling kids cannabis is bad and makes you crazy is a bad bad idea, they will try it realise your telling them complete crap. so they will begin to think you're lying about all drugs. THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD

28/09/2011 7:19:17 a.m.

Architect wrote:

kEEP DRUGS ILLEGAL SO I DONT HAVE TO WORK by Raggy on July 11, 2010 at 07:22PM We should keep all drugs illegal so i dont have to work buy keeping drugs illegal i can make a good profit without leaving my flat. Once a week i have a man come to me with £10,000 of heroin, crack, lsd, coke and cannabis. Because no one can buy these at the shops i make a killing and dont have to pay taxes or go to work. Because it is illegal i dont have to ask kids for ID and to stretch my profit further i cut the products with things like washing powder, sometimes i put ground glass in my cannabis deals to make them weigh more! its great. i have to go to the social once every 2 weeks to get my JSA, thats a side income for me so i can afford my sky+ HD subscription and pay my merc repayments without cutting into my drug profits. if im arrested i MAY go to jail but never mind, ive saved a few hundread thou from over the years in an account not linked to me so while it costs millions to keep in jail im sitting back waiting for my release date, or what i call retirement day. Why the contribution is important it helps the gov hide under a smoke screen and removes mp's chances of being discraced for supporting the legalise movment. if you havent noticed im being facetious. the above is exactly what any drug dealer would say.

27/09/2011 9:25:55 p.m.

Natalie Goddard wrote:

It's a plant for god sakes. Proven medicinally beneficial with moderation and everyone knows it. Think for yourselves here. John sure likes to interrupt doesn't he?