Big names to enter cannabis law debate

Arguments for cannabis law reform, and calls for politicians to stop ‘‘running scared’’, are expected at a drug summit in Wellington to be chaired by broadcaster Ali Mau.

Helen Clark could return to Parliament to discuss decriminalisation at the summit in July, and others are expected to voice frustration at drug law inertia, and what they see as an overemphasis on punishment.

The suffering people endured while waiting to get medicinal cannabis approved was one reason Mau said she was interested in drug law reform.

‘‘You’d have to be made of ice to not be moved by Helen Kelly’s story,’’ she said.

Trade union leader Kelly died of cancer last October, aged 52.

Her campaign in support of legalised medicinal cannabis use for people enduring painful illness energised the debate on access to medicinal cannabis products.

Laws were relaxed in February but access to the drugs remained tightly controlled.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell has long expressed frustration at the slow pace of drug law reform. In particular, he said the 1975 Misuse of Drugs Act was antiquated and unfit for purpose.

It had not tackled high rates of drug use and abuse, but instead had ‘‘burdened tens of thousands of young people and Maori with criminal convictions’’.

Said Mau: ‘‘I share Ross’ chagrin, or pain if you like, that the pace of change in New Zealand is way too slow.’’

She had noticed a shift in public attitudes in recent years, with people increasingly voicing support for decriminalisation.

‘‘Three years in talkback radio has made me realise how strongly New Zealanders feel about this issue . . . my listeners are not as conservative on this issue as the Government might think New Zealanders are.’’ Mau will not speak at the Parliamentary Drug Policy Symposium, but a dozen women with backgrounds in drug and alcohol research, politics, law and public health have confirmed their attendance.

Clark, who marked her last day as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme

"Three years in talkback radio has made me realise how strongly New Zealanders feel about this . . . my listeners are not as conservative on this issue as the Government might think." Ali Mau

last Wednesday, was in discussions to speak at the summit.

‘‘I’ve invited her because, at the UNDP, she did a ton of work around decriminalising drug use and sex work,’’ Bell said.

Maori Party founder Tariana Turia was expected to discuss issues affecting Maori and wider criminal justice sector reforms.

‘‘We’ve got leading Maori academics who are probably going to disagree with each other,’’ Bell said. ‘‘Some are for drug law reform and others are more conservative.’’

Bell hoped politicians would agree drug law reforms were needed, and might realise they could make drug reform promises instead of ‘‘running scared’’.

Two speakers with knowledge about North American drug law issues will speak at the conference.

They are former Canadian deputy prime minister Anne Mclellan, who headed that country’s taskforce on marijuana legalisation and regulation, and Alison Holcomb, who drove efforts to legalise marijuana for recreational use in the state of Washington. There were big dogs and little dogs, black and white dogs, dogs on wheels, three-legged dogs and even dogs wearing hats.

Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa resembled the entire content of children’s book Go, Dog. Go! by PD Eastman on Saturday morning, as hundreds of dogs and their owners converged on the area for an event called The Big Dog Walk With Lots of Dogs.

And every dog had its story, even the shaggy ones.

Three-legged 3-year-old greyhound cross Shiloh, for example, had been rescued by the SPCA after being abused on a farm.

Shiloh’s new owner, Janet Taylor, did not know too many details of Shiloh’s history and the circumstances of how he lost his leg, however it had left him with a fear of men wearing overalls.

The SPCA staff who treated and helped rehabilitate Shiloh had also renamed him – his original moniker of Bart having bad connotations.

Being down to three limbs had not proved a great impediment to Shiloh.

‘‘He’s a very fast runner. All these other dogs, he absolutely aces them,’’ Taylor said.

Also suffering a physical ailment was Tinkerbelle, who had suffered a spinal injury as a puppy which had partially paralysed her.

The 1-year-old dog of indeterminate breed was the beneficiary of a crowd-funding campaign to get her a specialised wheelchair, and she was evidently just as mobile and enjoying the copious canine company as much any other dog at the event.

Her owner, Rachael Elliott, helped organise the Hamilton event – an extension of Big Dog Walks being simultaneously held in Wellington, Napier and Auckland.

‘‘We needed one in Hamilton. I knew it would go really well here and just look around you.’’

The event involved a lap around the lake, followed by more lapping – out of water bowls provided for the thirsty canines.

Kiwi comedian Alice Brine launched the event in Wellington last year to promote her show at a comedy festival. But it quickly took on a life of its own.