Kelly Makiha: Survey hints at backing on dope

When Labour leader Andrew Little told student radio he would hold a referendum on decriminalising cannabis if he became prime minister, I thought he was unwise.

Turns out, he's just speaking what perhaps a majority of New Zealanders want.

A new poll shows almost 65 per cent of New Zealanders want personal possession of cannabis decriminalised or made legal.

There is even stronger support to let people use cannabis for pain relief - only 16 per cent of New Zealanders want that to be criminal.

The poll results are a little surprising.

Although as a country the use of cannabis is apparently getting more frequent, I had no idea so many actually supported decriminalising it.

I'd like to think I'm not a wowser or a prude. I understand there are several countries and states of countries where cannabis is now decriminalised and all hell hasn't broken loose there.

But I'm just not ready to say it's okay.

Prime Minister John Key feels the same way. He has said changing the law would send the wrong message to younger people. He did not back a referendum on the issue, and pointed to the recent outcry over shops selling "legal highs" or synthetic cannabis products, before the Government stepped in. In my view he's right.

How can we allow people to smoke cannabis yet outlaw synthetic cannabis?

Medicinal cannabis is a completely different deal.

If someone is in pain with a legitimate medical condition, they should be allowed access to medicinal cannabis because there is plenty of evidence to show it helps.

That access should be speedy and not held up with government red tape. But as for buying cannabis at your local dairy, no thanks.