New Zealand - Drug advocates concerned at Law Commission review

[~lostgurl~]

Drug advocates concerned at Law Commission review

12 Oct 2007
Radio New Zealand News

Drug liberalisation groups are concerned the Law Commission's review of the Misuse of Drugs Act may lead to further prohibition.

The commission says the basic structure of the 1975 Act has remained unchanged.

The review is one of 13 projects included in its working programme for 2008.

Chris Fowley of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws says the commission appears to be taking a prohibitionist point of view, which he says is ineffective.

Commission priority

The commission has set reforming criminal procedure as a priority to ease pressure on courts around the country and speed up access to justice.

Deputy president Warren Young says there are inefficiencies in the current criminal procedure process, particularly in the number of cases with repeated adjournments.

Mr Young says these are causing pressure in courts around the country and justice delayed is justice denied.

He says the basic structure of the Misuse of Drugs Act has remained unchanged since it was created in 1975, but the nature of drug usage and the level of harm caused by drugs has changed.

Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest...mission_review

[Petethemeat]

I hate the terms drug advocates or 'pro-drug'.