New Zealand has the highest rate of regular dope smokers in the world and Northland, as the cannabis capital of the country, is likely to have the highest rate of tokers on the planet, a former detective and current MP says.
Research by the University of Queensland's Centre for Clinical Research shows up to 15 per cent of New Zealanders and Australians aged 15 to 64 reportedly used the drug in the past year - the highest rate in the world. It compared with rates of 1.2 to 2.5 per cent in Asia and 10 per cent in the US.
Northland is recognised as New Zealand's cannabis capital, with more dope plants being pulled out of the region than anywhere else in the country, and Northland MP Mike Sabin, a former police detective and founder of drug education company Methcon, said the situation wouldn't improve until the region's economic situation did.
Last cannabis season, 34,917 plants were seized or destroyed in Northland among a national total of 97,000, and Mr Sabin said most of the dope grown here would probably be smoked in the region.
The growing season is in full swing again and police have urged people to provide information about cannabis, or any other drugs or crime.