The Greens are proposing an overhaul of a "hodgepodge" of drug laws.
Their drug law reform spokesman, Nandor Tanczos, wants a new Controlled Drugs Act to replace the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Sale of Liquor Act and the Smokefree Environments Act.
The Greens envisage all drugs and substances ranging from tobacco and alcohol to drugs classified as "A", such as methamphetamine, being encompassed by the new law.
The present blanket prohibitions and restrictions according to A, B and C ratings would be replaced by Parliament voting on recommendations made by an experts committee on specific substances.
The recommendations would range from outright bans through to controls over age of use and sale.
The Greens claim such a process, if focused on harm prevention, would take the political heat out of arguments about decriminalisation of recreational drugs such as cannabis.
When Labour did a confidence and supply deal with United Future in 2002 it had to promise to make no move to loosen the prohibition on cannabis.
- NZPA
Green plan for drug laws
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