Cannabis convictions down

Cannabis leaf on chalkboard.

Cannabis convictions in Hawke's Bay have fallen nearly 70 per cent in the past six years - further fuelling calls for Government action on drug law reform.

Ministry of Justice figures released under the Official Information Act to Hawke's Bay Today reveal the number of people convicted for cannabis possession in Napier and Hastings District and Youth Courts dropped from 196 in 2009 to just 61 last year - a drop of 69 per cent.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said the drop in convictions were because police had "almost de facto decriminalised cannabis" and were more likely to issue warnings for low-level drug offending, which don't appear on an individual's criminal record.

The figures follow a Drug Foundation poll which found 64 per cent of Kiwis surveyed said a small amount of cannabis for personal use should be decriminalised or legalised, and 79 per cent favoured a medical use, such as pain relief.

"It's not a matter of if we will change the law, it's a matter of when and how we will change the law," Mr Bell said.

The use of warnings was positive but the Government was "irresponsible" for not making legislative changes to reflect how the law was largely being applied in practice.
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"What [John Key is] saying is actually [he's] comfortable with the police not enforcing the law.

"There is a point where politicians do need to be responsible and not accept that it's ok for the police to turn a blind eye."

Possession of cannabis can result in up to three months' imprisonment and/or a $500 fine.

Hawke's Bay GP and addiction specialist Dr Tim Bevin said if the law was changed, the Government must be careful in how it tackles the finer details to minimise harm.

"A strict age restriction would be my bottom line - as a medic and a scientist I'd go for 25 years old," he said. NZME