By Alastair Bull of NZPA

Auckland, Feb 11 NZPA - The Drug Foundation has called on politicians to "engage constructively" with a Law Commission report calling for a relaxing of drug laws relating to personal use.

The commission said it agreed with vigorous law enforcement on commercial drug dealers, but that there should be less emphasis on punishment of personal possession and use and more emphasis on delivering effective treatment to addicts.

It called for a more lenient approach to people caught with small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use, saying that issuing caution or infringement notices should be an option available to police.

Justice Minister Simon Power dismissed the recommendation straight away, saying "there's not a single, solitary chance that as long as I'm the Minister of Justice, we'll be relaxing drug laws in New Zealand".

But Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said the commission's proposals were a major step towards modernising drug laws it called obsolete and that politicians should "avoid pointless ideological grandstanding".

It said the proposed changes would focus police efforts on drug trafficking, manufacture and large scale dealing while ensuring that users were given appropriate levels of help, including referring people to drug treatment.

"Let's not be scared by the commission's proposals. They are not radical, but they do reflect an up-to-date understanding of what New Zealand needs to find a better balance in reducing drug harm and helping those in need."

He also welcomed the proposal for shifting the burden of proof on manufacturers of new substances, such as BZP and other so-called 'legal highs' to one where they must prove they are safe before they are sold under new regulations.

The commission also recommended allowing cannabis use for medicinal purposes.

Mike Sabin of MethCon, a company which provides drug education, advice and training programmes relating to methamphetamine, said the commission was missing the point that drug dealers did not exist without users.

"By creating laws and regulations that apply minimal or no deterrence and accountability to using and possessing drugs we are providing the ideal breading ground to increase the overall number of people who will be using drugs, therefore more drug dealers."

He said the concept of harm minimisation "has failed us miserably in terms of our drug policy in the last 15 to 20 years, of late seeing us rise to be the highest users of cannabis and methamphetamine in the world".

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said current drug laws were hurting families.

"The law stops people from getting help when they need it and the cost of that failure is borne by the family and the community," she said.

"Too often drug policy is driven by emotive responses to specific cases. But we need rational drug policy based on evidence."

She said cautions and infringement notices worked well in Australia and other countries.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia did not comment on the call for relaxing laws for personal use but she did welcome the call for more drug addicts to be given help to become drug-free.

Mr Power said he welcomed the review of the Misuse Of Drugs Act but that no changes would be made.

"The prime minister has made the war against P and drugs a key part of his leadership and as long as I'm the minister of justice, we will not be relaxing drug laws."

NZPA AKL ajb kk nb