ALCP Backs Bid To Free 769 Political Prisoners

18.7.09

Scoop:

Friday, 17 July 2009, 1:56 pm
Press Release: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

ALCP Backs Judges Bid To Free 769 Political Prisoners in NZ


The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party agree, with Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias' call to let some prisoners out of jail. We have been pleading for 13 years 'Let our people go'. At this time there are approximately 769 people rotting in jail for cannabis. On average they serve 253 days, adding up to 194,557 days jail time by mainly young New Zealanders every year at a total cost of $48,370,760,00 per annum. ( ie over forty eight million dollars ). That does not include police, courts and social impact costs. 769 cannabis prisoners are approximately 10% of the total jail population. The government itself describes drug crime as victimless, therefore we question, 'What are these people doing in jail?' These 769 political prisoners fill two complete prisons out of 20.

The government war on drugs has failed to minimize use or protect the public. Prohibition has encouraged use and created crime gangs and corruption, through out the system. It is timely, brave leaders like Dame Sian Elias speak out. With the second highest rate of imprisonment in the western world - 185/100,000, we should be ashamed. Add to this the highest use of cannabis in the OECD, and we see complete failure of current policy. The government war on drugs has caused chaos, mayhem, murder, and terror in this land. To persist in this mindless senseless, useless and brainless war on the people of Aotearoa is akin to treason.

This issue is so important that the Law Commission has been required to examine from first principles, The Misuse of Drugs Act, questioning the adopted US led war on drugs. A revolution in thinking and attitude is needed, to change what we are doing, if we want to reduce the numbers in jail and have better outcomes, not bitter outcomes. We hope others in the Judicial system will be inspired by the Judge and make a stand for sense and sensibility not 'senseless sentencing'

"The link between prisons and crime and victims, with the unresolved debate of the appropriate legal status for cannabis has gone completely unnoticed." says ALCP president Kevin O'Connell. "Missing from the range of strategies suggested by everyone, including Chief Justice Sian Elias, is the glaringly obvious reform of the cannabis laws."

"There is no evidence that cannabis prohibition works, or protects anyone in the community. The black market is thriving, the gateway to hard drugs is wide open, and prisons are bulging at the seams."

"Take the heat off the cannabis scene by deglamorising the plant. Restore a credible rule of law, and personal responsibility so that adults are treated like adults. Make cannabis a restricted R18 substance under existing provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act.."

The ALCP say voters are increasingly aware of the injustice of cannabis prohibition. If we really want to take the pressure off prisons and victims - and taxpayers - NZ desperately needs to regulate the cannabis market.

ENDS