 | Cannabis Inquiry '98: Mental health effects of cannabis - full inquiry report |
 The National-led Government in 1998 ordered the Health Select Committee to investigate the mental health effects of cannabis.
The inquiry was not allowed to examine the legal status of cannabis, but they had this to say:
"Evidence received in the course of this inquiry has raised serious doubts about commonly held beliefs about cannabis. Moderate use of the drug does not seem to harm the majority of people... It is clear that current policies do not deter cannabis use to any great extent... we recommend that the Government review the appropriateness of existing policy on cannabis and its use and reconsider the legal status of cannabis."
Mental Health Effects of Cannabis - read the full Inquiry Report
Some more extracts from the report:
"If cannabis does cause harm to a small proportion of users then it is preferable that those people have good access to treatment without fear of stigmatization or criminalisation. A harm minimisation approach aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of drug problems appears to be a realistic approach to cannabis use in New Zealand. Such a policy is already employed in operating needle and syringe exchange programmes for injecting drug users to prevent the use and sharing of dirty needles."
"It is acknowledged that cannabis prohibition enforced by traditional crime control methods has not been successful in reducing the apparent number of cannabis users in New Zealand. That the Police are open minded on the issue of the decriminalisation of cannabis is an indication that thinking on the subject is changing... Methods other than prohibition certainly deserve consideration."
"In light of the evidence we have heard on the effects of cannabis and the high rate of cannabis use in New Zealand, the effectiveness of the current policy on cannabis requires examination. These are important policy issues, the consideration of which was beyond the scope of this inquiry. However, based on the evidence received, we recommend that the Government review the appropriateness of existing policy on cannabis and its use and reconsider the legal status of cannabis."
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