Peter Dunne says the new approach on drugs will show compassion, innovation and proportion.

And it needs to.

Whether it will in practice is another thing. Let’s wait and see.

Mother and community leader, Kelly van Gaalen, is serving two years in jail for possessing cannabis for supply.

It feels wrong and the surely the judge could have and should have dealt with it differently.

The new national drug policy has five priority areas, one of which is "getting the legal balance right".

Peter Dunne says the policy does not show the Government is moving towards official or unofficial decriminalisation of some drugs.

Listen to Alison Mau's interview with Peter Dunne:

Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation says the policy is a subtle shift towards treating the abuse of drugs and alcohol as a health issue - meaning prevention, education and treatment should take priority over the criminal justice approach.

Of course the war against the gangs must continue. And it will.

But I also believe drugs are also a health issue and people need help yet are reluctant to seek it or be offered it because of the stigma and the current law.

It’s time for something more fundamental to change.

So I ask you to vote on the following:

Duncan Garner hosts RadioLIVE Drive - 'where content is still king' - weekdays from 3pm and Story, 7pm Mon-Thurs on TV3.

source: data archive