"We recommend [that] the government ... give a high priority to its reconsideration of the reclassification of cannabis," authors of the report concluded. Authors also recommended first time marijuana users be diverted to drug treatment rather than face criminal sanctions.

Marijuana arrests currently comprise an estimated 95 percent of all drug arrests in New Zealand, the report found. Marijuana possession is punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine.

Recently completed federal inquiries in Canada and the United Kingdom have similarly recommended the reclassification and/or decriminalization of marijuana. A 1998 review by the New Zealand Health Select Committee noted that "the negative mental health impacts of cannabis appear to have been overstated," and urged Parliament to review the existing law.

Other findings by the 2003 committee include:

• Marijuana has not dramatically increased in potency. "There is no evidence of a significant general increase in cannabis potency over the past 25 years." (p. 14)

• Marijuana does not lead to delinquent behavior in young people. "Evidence suggests that cannabis use does not cause behavioral difficulties; instead it is frequently used by youth who are predisposed to deviant behavior." (p. 19)

• Marijuana does not induce violent behavior. "There is ... a debate over whether cannabis use produces violence. ... We understand that the most currently available research demonstrates that this relationship does not exist." (p. 19)

• Marijuana does not cause serious long-term cognitive deficits. "There is no evidence that there is irreversible brain damage from cannabis use. Long-term use does raise concerns about cognitive changes. ... However, research into residual cognitive changes after cessation of cannabis use has found only minor deficits or no difference between users and non-users." (p. 18)

• Marijuana does not cause schizophrenia. "There is no convincing evidence that cannabis causes schizophrenia." (p. 17)

• Marijuana does not cause psychosis. "[R]esearch does not appear to substantiate a link between cannabis use and psychosis." (p. 17)

The complete report, entitled "An inquiry into the public health strategies related to cannabis use and the most appropriate legal status," is available online at:
http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/i6c.pdf

For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500. A summary of previous federally commissioned reports is available at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3382