Drug advocate finds confessions unhelpful

Palmerston North MP Steve Maharey can confess his cannabis "crimes" with impunity, says the president of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis party.

Dave Moore said that, although smoking cannabis should not affect people later in life, it was not helpful for MPs and Cabinet ministers to reveal their past indiscretions.

"It's okay for them to have tried it, and to still allow the law to criminalise cannabis," he said.

About 20,000 people a year were convicted of cannabis-related crimes, Mr Moore said.

The country's leading cannabis legalisation campaigner, Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos, said he did not really care whether MPs had "smoked" in their youth.

He was more concerned about the present policy on cannabis, which he believed was not working.

Politicians had an "I did it and got away with it, but I won't let you get away with it" mentality, Mr Tanczos said.

The Greens were interested in controlled access to cannabis for young people, with a set age limit, and targeting people supplying cannabis to young children.

- NZPA

What the parties say about cannabis law reform

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