Policy and Advocacy: Let's talk about pot, Matters of Substance article

New Zealand’s response to an apparent increase in drivers under the influence of cannabis seems likely to be more legislation and new penalties. But is this good policy, based on solid evidence? It might be, but Geoff Noller argues that the issues and evidence are complex and require much more discussion before we act.

"Skunk 25 times more potent than resin sold a decade ago" - so the recent headlines go, accompanied by articles reporting record numbers of young people requiring drug rehabilitation, and worrying statistics about their cannabis usage. But just how much stronger is ‘the devil's lettuce' these days, and is it causing more young people to need treatment? Marilyn Head looks to bring a little balance to a subject often fraught with exaggeration and over-simplification.

Incidents involving cannabis provide some of our best chances to foster students' success even while the important social and health issues involved are addressed, argues Trish Gledhill. The way we view and deal with these events can make all the difference in promoting young people's resilience, and the results can be quite surprising.

I awoke this morning to a flurry of colourful and fantastic insights for my story on cannabis. By the time I made it to my desk, all those wonderful ideas had dissolved like smoke in the wind.