Tanczos Nandor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Tanczos Nandor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4543] 
10.  
NANDOR TANCZOS (Green) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Is he representing New Zealand at any international forums or conferences in the coming month; if so which ones? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the 
 Associate Minister of Health 
: Yes he is. As the Minister representing New Zealand he will be attending the ministerial segment of the 46th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna from 15 to 17 April. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Will he be following the example of his predecessor at that convention the former New Zealand First MP Tuariki Delamere who criticised the delegates for “the hypocrisy in which many adults openly and legally abuse alcohol and then turn around and condemn youth for using marijuana”; if not why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No he will be outlining the Government’s commitment to approaches to dealing with the problems caused by illicit drugs and alcohol particularly in relation to young New Zealanders. 
Dianne Yates 
: What is the role he will be taking at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: He will be outlining that one of the goals of the Government’s national drug policy is to support international efforts to control the supply of and reduce the demand for both legal and illegal drugs. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Will the Minister be discussing the recent articles in the  
British Medical Journal 
 on the clear links between cannabis use and various psychiatric illnesses and what is his opinion on Wellington Coroner Garry Evans’ warning to this Government to be cautious over cannabis decriminalisation because young people who take their own lives are commonly users often very heavy users of cannabis? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I cannot comment in detail as to what the Associate Minister will be discussing at that conference but in relation to the report from the coroner in relation to cannabis I think that warning is for the whole of Parliament because when a decision is made if it is made it will be made by the whole of this Parliament not by one or two individual members. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: In the event that Mr Delamere’s comments are raised at the conference will the Associate Minister be advising that conference that the New Zealand Government’s position now pursuant to its agreement with United Future is that it will not be introducing any moves to change the legal status of cannabis? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I would expect that would be the case. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Is the Minister aware that the only country recorded to have at least partially met the goal of that body which is the elimination or significant reduction of illicit drugs was Afghanistan under the Taliban—a role model that I am sure the Minister does not want to emulate—and will the Government support a review of United Nations conventions on control of illicit drugs on the basis that they actually hinder control as called for by a declaration signed by hundreds of parliamentarians around the world calling for a review of United Nations conventions? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No I cannot confirm any of those things. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: I seek leave of the House to table an appeal addressed to all Governments and the United Nations. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I seek leave to table the  
British Medical Journal 
 articles “Cannabis use and mental health in young people” and “Cannabis use in adolescence and risk for adult psychosis”. 
Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House.