Status quo likely on cannabis

United Future's hardline stance on cannabis prohibition will remain a non-negotiable policy for post-election agreements - dampening the hopes of the pro-cannabis groups for a loosening of drug laws.

And Jim Anderton's Progressive Party wants his next coalition agreement to allow introduction of a bill to raise the drinking age back to 20.

Alcohol and drugs are shaping to be a more defining issue in this election than they were in the last one.

Labour's drug position appears confused. This week the Herald was referred to three different ministers when trying to establish the party's policy. And despite Labour's agreement with United Future, MP Tim Barnett has publicly speculated on the best way to achieve cannabis law reform.

United Future leader Peter Dunne said the party felt strongly about maintaining the cannabis prohibition and said it would form a fundamental part of any post-election agreement.

After the last election United Future signed an agreement with Labour to support the Government on crucial votes in exchange for the Government's promise not to introduce legislation to change the legal status of cannabis.

Mr Dunne said there was a possibility United Future might look to make agreement terms on the issue even stronger after this year's election.

He also hinted that United Future might want its coalition partner to vote against any private members' bills on cannabis reform.

Green MP Nandor Tanczos described United Future's agreement with Labour on cannabis as a "temporary obstacle" on the path to decriminalising cannabis.

"I think that cannabis law reform is inevitable, it's happening all around the world. Countries are waking up to the fact that prohibition doesn't work. It is simply wasting huge amount of police resources."

Mr Tanczos said he believed there was a a majority of MPs who would support cannabis law reform and said the Greens were working on a private member's bill on the issue.

"Once we get a bill into the house I'm convinced that it will pass, because I think we have a majority. It's only because the United Future party is playing poli-tricks - that is the only reason nothing has happened in this term."

Supporters of his cause are getting organised for the election.

The latest edition of National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) magazine urges the New Zealand "cannabis community", which it says is 500,000- strong, to vote in the election to legalise cannabis.

"We have the potential to be a very powerful force in New Zealand politics - if we act together," Norml says. "This could be our last chance for years - and it's a scary thought how long we might be waiting if we don't get a sympathetic parliament this coming election."

The article has "personal observations" from Tim Barnett, quoting him as saying Green, Act and Labour MPs are the most likely to support some kind of reform.

"Labour is by far the largest of those parties," Mr Barnett says, "so a strong bloc of Labour MPs in the next Parliament is very important to the cause."

Mr Barnett goes on to say the Greens have done interesting work in the area and that he hopes they are part of the next Government so progress can be made.

Mr Anderton said the provision in the next coalition agreement to raise the drinking age back to 20 would be in the form of a Government bill which would guarantee it came before Parliament.

New Zealand First also wants to return the drinking age to 20, while the Greens want to ban all broadcast advertising of alcohol and have warning labels put on bottles.

The other drug-related matter likely to be contentious this election is the legal status of party pills, nitrous oxide, laughing gas, butane and spray paints.

Now before Parliament's health select committee is the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3), which will create a new R18 category of Class D drugs to restrict their sale. The select committee reports back on May 19 on the bill.

At present the pills are not covered by food and medicine laws. The only regulations governing the producers and retailers come from a voluntary code.

Last week the Government said it was illegal to sell or buy nitrous oxide to inhale.

Party policies on drugs and alcohol

* Labour

The party has not released its 2005 election policy.

But Labour's 2002 policy contained provisions to minimise harm caused by alcohol and illicit and other drug use to individuals and the community. In 2002 the party had no concrete policy on cannabis reform.

* National

National is opposed to the legalisation cannabis and says it will 'break the link' between drugs and crime and confiscate the assets of drug-dealing gangs.

* New Zealand First

New Zealand First will oppose all efforts to legalise cannabis and any other form of illicit drugs. The party says it will aggressively target 'P' and other dangerous drugs, and wants to raise the drinking age back to 20.

* Greens

The Greens support decriminalisation of cannabis - with an age limit of 18. The Greens want to ban all broadcast advertising of alcohol and have warning labels put on bottles. The party also wants a review of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

* United Future

Would maintain the prohibition on cannabis. Wants an investigation as to whether party pills should be classified under the Hazardous Substance Act rather than creating a Class D to restrict their sale under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

* Act

Party policy is that the matter is a conscious issue. However, most in the party support the status quo.

* The Progressive Party

Wants to raise the drinking age back to 20. Opposed to any form of decriminalisation of cannabis. The party takes a serious view of the abuse of all drugs in the New Zealand culture.

* Maori Party

Opposed to drug use and abuse - whether it be illegal substances, alcohol, cigarettes or any other form of drugs. Wants health promotion, timely access to high quality and appropriate health care, and support for whanau strategies to address drug use.