Hard News by Russell Brown

Well, that was a thoroughly worthwhile morning.

Most of what Peter Dunne had to say wasn’t new, but his remarks on workplace drug testing were bracing: “Let us not lose sight of the health and safety reasons for it and start using it as a punitive measure.”

Then it was Prof Alison Ritter, who gave a fascinating (to geeks like me, anyway) presentation on the variety of approaches to drug law already in place and – more importantly – on the principles we should consider in creating effective drug law reform. She praised NZ’s National Drug Policy as a basis (which is a big tick for Dunne) and connected it directly to the practice of democracy.

Then, from theory to practice. Anne McLellan, chair of Canada’s cannabis legalisation taskforce, outlined the fairly conservative approach of her government to making weed legal: which at least initially will include a limit of 30 grams that can be carried in public. I guess that means that’s also the limit that can be sold. Serious penalties will remain for supply to minors.

And then Alison Holcomb talking about how they’ve done it in Washington state, plus quite a bit from her background in achieving reform with the ACLU. Notable:

“We specifically dedicated part of [Washington legal weed] tax revenues to evaluation. And not just one evaluation.”

She noted that Washington’s post-legalisation numbers are pretty good. No rise in youth use or drug driving, marijuana arrests down 98% – and 78% public support in polls.

The MPs’ panel was interesting, but lordy, Labour’s lack of clarity was showing. David Clark kept saying “we support the Law Commission review”, but that’s not a policy. The review is a list of things the commissioners thought were potentially good ideas, some at odds with each other, some looking pretty dated now. If you want to say it’s your policy, you have to say which parts. Clark didn’t cite a single specific thing in the review that labour would do.

Also: Dunne declared “I need a mandate” to enact change. Vote United Future for drug law reform, apparently. The Greens weren’t supper-impressed.

Anyway, the thing I’m enjoying most is all the local people being in the same room. It’s fun meeting people I’ve only talked to on the phone, and introducing them to each other.

The Drug Foundation's new model drug law has been published over at The Spinoff.

Removal of all criminal penalties for use and possession in favour of a Portugal-style system of health referrals.

Legalised, regulated supply of cannabis + home growing, Commitment to regions having a stake in any new cannabis growing industry,

Substantial increases in funding for drug treat resources and non-criminal responses.

Of course Big Liquor all ready has this 'Symposium thing' sewn up - they control the process it seems:
Good Reason for a symposium!:

1. a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.

Real Reason for a symposium?:

2. a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato)

:- )

...a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato)

"Plato, they say, could stick it away
Half a crate of whiskey every day."

“Plato, they say, could stick it away
Half a crate of whiskey every day.”

Oath! Bruce!
... and that Aristotle, well!