The intrusion by the state into people s private lives brings the law into disrespect. The effect of anti-drug legislation has been to blur the line between what is private and what is criminal behaviour. It has created an outlaw ethos which nurtures anti social behaviour. The criminalisation of otherwise law abiding people has been promoted by the very agencies whose power increases as a result of the social chaos that has ensued. The belief that criminal sanctions would control the use of cannabis has been proved to be completely false.
Cannabis is generally available to whoever seeks it out.
This fact is evidenced by the University of Auckland Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit s publication, Cannabis Use in NZ 1990-1998 . Public health agencies who might control cannabis abuse have little credibility as they are associated with the hypocrisy of government which profits from other, more dangerous, drugs. We are now in a situation where cannabis is either demonised or glorified. To the extent that both these perceptions are distorted real health issues, such as the therapeutic use of cannabis for glaucoma and other ailments or the danger of cannabis use by those under mental stress fail to be addressed. The social cost of maintaining an ineffective prohibitory regime can be counted in the blighted lives of those who would never have taken cannabis had an informed choice been made possible for them.