We asked Rotorua candidates for the general election for their thoughts on synthetic cannabis in the community.
Todd McClay, incumbent Rotorua MP, National Party
I remain strongly opposed to the sale of harmful psychoactive substances. In fact three years ago I marched with hundreds of local parents in Rotorua calling for them to be removed from shops and dairies. As Associate Health Minister I went further, passing a law meaning 160 dangerous products were banned. Today no synthetic high can be sold legally - those peddling them face prison sentences. Synthetic highs are dangerous and I fully support the police in their war against drugs. I ask parents to talk to their family members so they are aware that synthetic drugs can be deadly.
Some people are going to use drugs. If we choose not to regulate this market and allow gangs to control the productions, sale and distribution of drugs, then we must surrender to the fact they have no interest in the authenticity of their product, its quality or its effect on the user. This model leads to terrible situations like those we see on our streets, with users taking bad synthetic cannabis. I ask Kiwis; do we regain control by legalising and regulating marijuana or do we continue to allow gangs to make money off putting our community's lives at risk and damaging families through drugs?
Richard Gillies, Rotorua candidate, Green Party
The ongoing spate of synthetic drug incidents in Rotorua is tragic and must stop. Short term, police must focus effort on the supply issue, and families and friends must act and seek urgent treatment for affected users. A reform of our drug laws is long overdue. We need to move from punishing users to improving public health. The Greens would legalise cannabis for personal use, providing a safer alternative to unregulated synthetic products. We supported the Psychoactive Substances legislation in 2014 and would support similar regulation and testing of other drugs where improve public health is the result.
Te Ururoa Flavell, Waiariki candidate, Maori Party
A national strategy needs to be developed that is whanau-centred and community-led to get beneath the drivers of P and other harmful substances and address the wider determinants of health disparities. Synthetic cannabis and other psychoactive substances need to be removed from our communities. The Maori Party support the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and we are open to a wider discussion about relaxing the criminal justice regime. I would like to also see an increase in the number of respite care beds for p addicts and other harmful substances in kaupapa-led A and D facilities.
Tamati Coffey, Waiariki candidate, Labour Party
The Government legalised synthetics, and then created a huge underground market when they banned it. We needed more police four years ago and now we are seeing what happens when our community police are under resourced - synthetics slip through the cracks and people die. Maori need a new approach to this problem, and Labour wants to make sure that our Maori whanau are getting the right mental health support for those that want it. We will also put an extra 500 police on the beat to patch the cracks the National Maori Party Government have caused in our community policing. Hoake tatau Rotorua!
Fletcher Tabuteau, Rotorua based MP, New Zealand First
Government cuts to police funding mean we have too few police in our town and we barely have the national drug enforcement team anymore either. We need the drug squad back in full force and more police on our streets. We cannot combat drugs by making other drugs legal. People can access cannabis as readily as the synthetic version apparently. Synthetic cannabis is a blight in our community and it must be stamped out completely. New Zealand First has said that a binding referendum would be the only response we would take on cannabis for recreational use, after a prolonged education campaign discussing the positives and the negatives. We already believe that medicinal marijuana should be legal.
Wendy Biddle, Rotorua candidate, Maori Party
The Maori Party is committed to develop a national strategy that is whanau-centred and community-led to get behind the drivers of harmful substances and address the wider determinants of issues such as this. We are also committed to continuing the ban regarding the sale of all synthetic cannabis and other psychoactive substances. My thoughts go to the whanau that were affected over the weekend.