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New Zealand's longest-running online daily news and commentary publication, now in its 25th year. The opinion pieces presented here are not purported to be fact but reasonable effort is made to ensure accuracy.

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Democracy up in smoke

17 August 2016

Yesterday I wrote about the paranoia that overtakes governments which know they're not adequately representing their employers.

Well today there's more evidence that the current New Zealand government falls squarely into that category.

Why are they planning to significantly increase their ability to spy on their employers?

Perhaps because, once again, they are ignoring the overwhelming voice of the majority and instead engaging in an arrogant demonstration of fascism. Yes, this isn't an over-the-top rant, I chose my words wisely.

I'm talking about the issue of decriminalising or even legalising marijuana.

A poll conducted by the government itself has this week clearly indicated that barely 34% of the public support the current situation which sees MJ classified as an illegal drug.

This means that a very significant 66% of the public want MJ decrimanalised or legalised.

So what is the response of our allegedly "democratic" government?

Well John Key himself believes that he knows better than the 1.65 million people (out of the 2.5 million Kiwis who are of voting age) who think a change is due.

As part of this contempt for democracy, Key announced that he felt any change to the law would send the wrong message to young people.

What colour is the sky in this man's world and hasn't he forgotten that he's not a king, he's a public servant who is sworn to represent and serve the people who he is now effectively calling "know-nothings"?

Does Key have a degree in behavioural psychology?

What, aside from an expensive suit and a smarmy smile, qualifies Mr Key to make such bold statements which fly in the face of the clearly stated wants of the public?

Remember also that this report comes hot on the heals of a Treasury report which also recommended liberalising changes to the laws on MJ but which similarly dismissed by the government. It seems that the government is only listening to those reports and surveys that are congruent with its own ideologies and the PM's own personal biases.

Brian Rudman wrote an excellent column on this issue in the NZH today and I invite you to read it.

I agree with almost everything Brian wrote and I know that I'd much rather the police were busy trying to find my property if I was burgled than pinging harmless stoners.

John Key's disingenuous comments also ignore the most significant problem with the criminalisation of MJ. Because the most common source for buying MJ is probably going to be through gangs, this exposes people to other drugs such as P. If you legalise MJ, people won't be pressured to "try this P man" every time they go out to buy a little dope.

So long as it is illegal, MJ will act as a gateway drug. Legalise it and that potential is significantly reduced. Maintain the status quo and we'll continue to line the pockets of the gangs and expose our youngest and most vulnerable to much harder and more harmful drugs than dope.

But no, JK wants to send a message -- albeit the wrong one, and who are we (his employers) to suggest otherwise. If you want a democracy you're increasingly living in the wrong country.

Uh-oh, I'd better check my pot-plants (no, not *that* kind of pot) for listening devices now, I'm sure my subversive writing will have me on the surveillance list for our soon-to-be all new GCSB domestic spy agency :-(

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever have engaged in the consumption or trading of illegal drugs and I have a drinking problem (I open the occasional bottle of wine but usually end up throwing out most of it because I forget to drink it).

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