NEW ZEALAND SHOULD JUST SAY NO

Justice Minister Simon Power's dismissal of the bulk of the Law
Commission's work on drug use in New Zealand is regrettable. I hope Mr
Power has not mistakenly assumed that punitive drug laws actually
reduce use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and
current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Here in the United
States, police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in
schools and random drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties,
while failing miserably at preventing drug use.

The US drug war is in large part a war on cannabis, by far the most
popular illicit drug. Nonetheless, the US has higher rates of cannabis
use than the Netherlands, where cannabis is legally available. Despite
clear evidence of failure, the US uses its superpower status to export
a dangerous moral crusade around the globe. The short-term health
effects of cannabis are inconsequential compared to the long-term
effects of criminal records. New Zealand should just say no to the
American Inquisition.

ROBERT SHARPE

Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington DC