Editorial: Fresh look at cannabis laws will take courage

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When even police joke about it, you know it's time to change the law.

Waikato police have a Facebook post of two cows sniffing cannabis plants and asking for the funniest caption for the photo.

They note: "It's that time of year again when we are wrapping up our annual cannabis operation. While many of you think it's god's greatest gift to us, it is still illegal which means we still police it."

They also note: "Rather than hitting you with stats and "don't do drugs" comments, we thought we'd take a lighter approach and run a competition".

They may - or may not - have a prize for the wittiest remark.

There is a resigned tone to the post, as in 'we are fighting a losing battle against something we don't really believe in and understand there are bigger crimes than smoking a joint'.

Many of us do, including freshly anointed Labour party candidate and ex police union head Greg O'Connor.

However while police add a bit of humour to implementing cannabis controls, people are still getting nicked. And getting criminal records.

Hopefully this election there will be serious discussion about the decriminalisation of possessing and growing cannabis for personal use. That will be a start to getting some decent drug laws, around health, education and harm reduction.

It will take bravery from MPs.

But, as Mr O'Connor has been quoted as saying, there are better ways to deal with cannabis than relying on the criminal justice system.

And there are better things for the police to be doing than arresting people for minor drug infringements.