Blanket diversion an option in marijuana reform

By TOM CLARKE

The debate over the legal status of marijuana is missing a possible sensible solution, says Tim Harding, of the non-government alcohol and drug treatment service provider, Nsad Care Ltd.

Mr Harding, who has just become chief executive of Nsad, says the decriminalisation argument is being carried on with insufficient information, too much polarisation and without looking for the middle ground.

"We're saying very simply 'don't decriminalise, but more clearly define other options such as diversion'," he says.

Blanket diversion, coupled with compulsory education, could be given "so we don't turn people into criminals at a young age."

The intervention of drug education agencies would mean that young people who continue using marijuana would at least do so on an informed basis. Mr Harding says young users are getting street information and not the whole picture.

While 90 per cent of marijuana users don't end up in trouble with it, the 10 per cent who do need support. The 90 per cent might be doing worse at school or not realising their potential, however.

Making criminals of users does not support them, but neither does dismissing marijuana use as "no big deal." Mr Harding suggests young people caught with the drug should have to pay for the education themselves, but not have to go through the courts.

All the focus is on a punitive justice system, Mr Harding says, when it should be on health improvements and support for people who get into trouble with drugs.

"I'm not vehemently anti-decriminalisation - what I am saying is that we need to research it more fully, because there is possible middle ground that hasn't even been thought about yet."

Nsad is working with the Drug Foundation to push for more debate on the issue.

Mr Harding says New Zealand's record of drug and alcohol abuse and dependency is very similar to other countries. Research has shown that as many as one person in four has problems: 19 per cent of the population have alcohol abuse or dependency problems and 5.7 per cent of adults drug abuse problems.

A recent 21-year-long study of 1000 young people from birth to 21 years of age, showed 9 per cent had a dependency problem with cannabis. Health Department research estimates that New Zealand has 40,000 heroin addicts.

Before becoming involved in the alcohol and drug treatment field, Mr Harding ran his own businesses. He has also had health sector management experience. He is a former chief executive of Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs and has been responsible for other North Island dependency centres and programmes operated by Nsad.

NSAD Care Ltd is a charitable company which took over the National Society on Alcohol and Drug Dependence's operations.