Marijuana

The AGM has reaffirmed an SRC policy calling for the legalisation of the controlled use of marijuana.

Allegations that earlier decisions were not representative of the opinions of the student body were refuted by the voting of 124—47.

President Bryson said that she was annoyed that doubt was expressed about the SRC as the policy-making body of the Student's Association. "I want to make it quite clear that the SRC is the student policy-making body," she said. "The motions have been recommitted to clear up this doubt," she said.

A speaker to the motion said that as a chemistry graduate he could not accept cannabis as a narcotic with any degree of scientific truth. "No derivative of cannabis is a narcotic either chemically, medically or pharmacologically. It seems an anomaly that the law of the land should define cannabis as a narcotic when it is not," he said.

In opposition, Mr Joll, a social worker, said "How anyone of student level could question the findings of the World Health Organisation never fails to sicken or amuse me."

"It is not a scientific truth but a social truth that it can cause harm and lead to harder drugs," Mr Joll said.

Mr R. Smith provided some background to the NZUSA decisions. "Easter Council had its doubts that the evidence available on marijuna showed that it led to harder drugs," he said.

"The important point to remember is that the present legislation is leading to the formation of a criminal, drug-taking sub-culture," he said.

"It is not the prerogative of society to make moral choices for the individual. Blackmail by pushers can put marijuna smokers on to harder drugs because of the original offence," Mr Smith said.

In reply to a question from the floor, Miss Bryson said that the Easter Council decision would be fully documented as a press statement.

Mr P. Grocott, NZUSA President said that Easter Council was concerned about the abuse of drug taking and to curb the irresponsible handling of drugs NZUSA wanted the Government to distinguish between hard drugs and marijuana.

He said that he was aware that the Easter Council would have had adverse publicity. "But students' knowledge ought not to be thought to be slight," he said.