|
Newsbrief:
New
Zealand
to
War
on
"Evil"
Meth
5/30/03
Facing growing methamphetamine
use and a press frenzy over meth-related crime, the government of New Zealand
released its Methamphetamine Action Plan on May 21, making those convicted
of importing or manufacturing speed subject to life imprisonment beginning
today (May 30). The 19-point plan also includes demand reduction, harm
reduction and treatment, but in both emphasis and spending is weighted
towards law enforcement.
As of today, methamphetamine
is a Class A drug in New Zealand, with possession now punishable by up
to six months in jail and conspiracy to manufacture or distribute punishable
by up to 14 years in prison. Law enforcement will also get additional powers
to conduct searches and seizures under the plan.
"There is a zero tolerance
approach by the government to this," said Allen Anderton, chairman of the
Ministerial Action Group on Alcohol and Drugs. "We just consider it an
outrageously dangerous drug, and those who engage in it are engaging in
a substance of evil." But Anderton, who told the New Zealand Herald his
visit last week with American rap star Coolio -- whose credentials as a
substance abuse expert are unclear -- reinforced his sense of urgency,
added that he didn't want to punish those involved with evil. "We are not
really after punishment for those who are victims, but we want to help
them, their families and communities."
Under the plan, the government
will spend $2.55 (New Zealand) million a year on prevention and $620,000
for a pilot treatment program, as well as $150,000 a year for a drug information
analyst. But Customs will get $1.9 million a year to hire 16 drug investigators
and intelligence analysts, and another $15 to $25 million for special x-ray
technology, while police will get $1.65 million additional a year for special
meth lab clean-up teams.
The measure was supported
by New Zealand's leading advocate of marijuana legalization, Green Party
Member of Parliament Nandor Tanczos.
-- END --
|
Issue #289, 5/30/03
Editorial: For Decency's Sake, No More No-Knock Drug Raids | Canadian Government Introduces Cannabis Decriminalization Bill | Ed Rosenthal to be Sentenced Wednesday -- Could Escape Mandatory Minimum as Pleas for Leniency Roll In, Supporters Prepare to Rally | DRCNet Book Review: "Saying Yes: In Defense of Drug Use," by Jacob Sullum (Tarcher & Putnam, 24.95 HB) | Democratic Presidential Contender Endorses Medical Marijuana -- Ohio's Kucinich First Out of the Gate | Saying Yes: New Book Offer from DRCNet | Action Alerts: Medical Marijuana, HEA Drug Provision, Global Legalization and Drug Treaty Reform Petition | Newsbrief: NYPD Under Fire in Death of Woman in Botched Drug Raid | Newsbrief: Federal Hepatitis C Control and Prevention Bill Filed | Newsbrief: Mississippi Drug Czar Not One to Let the Law Get in His Way | Newsbrief: The Hash Fields of Morocco | Newsbrief: Dutch Coffee Shops Take Hit in Anti-Tobacco Campaign | Newsbrief: New Zealand to War on Evil Meth | Newsbrief: Garcia Marquez Takes Back His Legalization Comments, Sort Of | Newsbrief: Gambian Narcs Mar Marley Remembrance with Raids | Newsbrief: Japanese Author, Legalization Advocate Gets Suspended Sentence for Marijuana Possession | Reflections Seeking Submissions for Special Issue on Prison | The Reformer's Calendar
|
This issue -- main page
This issue -- single-file printer version
Drug War Chronicle -- main page
Chronicle archives
|
PERMISSION to reprint or
redistribute any or all of the contents of Drug War Chronicle (formerly The Week Online with DRCNet is hereby
granted. We ask that any use of these materials include proper credit and,
where appropriate, a link to one or more of our web sites. If your
publication customarily pays for publication, DRCNet requests checks
payable to the organization. If your publication does not pay for
materials, you are free to use the materials gratis. In all cases, we
request notification for our records, including physical copies where
material has appeared in print. Contact: StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network,
P.O. Box 18402, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 293-8340 (voice), (202)
293-8344 (fax), e-mail [email protected]. Thank
you.
Articles of a purely
educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of the DRCNet
Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
|
