There has been much media interest in Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill, which was considered in Parliament today. Voting on the First Reading of the Bill was a conscience issue - in that MPs voted as they saw fit rather than along party lines. The bill was voted down and will not go to select committee for further scrutiny.

Although it was nowhere near perfect I supported the Bill as I thought it was time to debate the issue of whether or not cannabis should be made legal for use in some medical conditions - time for a proper examination of the science.

Under the provisions of the bill those eligible would have become registered users of cannabis and they or their agent would have been permitted to cultivate and possess a small amount of cannabis. Some saw this as a precursor to full legalisation or decriminalisation of cannabis.

There is clear scientific evidence to show that some medical conditions, such as glaucoma, where the condition improved - why should someone go blind unnecessarily when there is a treatment that works? Other conditions - such as the nausea caused by chemotherapy - are brought under control with the use of cannabis.

There were some conditions listed in the schedule that I didn't agree with inclusion in the bill. Depression and schizophrenia were both listed but there are no mental illnesses that are improved by the use of cannabis, and many that are made worse.
Decisions should be based on science. If it can be shown that there is advantage in using cannabis to treat a medical condition, then we should be exploring those options.

Legislation in Parliament this week (June 30-July 2).

Government Bills:

Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill - Second Reading, Committee Stage, Third Reading
ACT to Support

Motor Vehicles Sales Amendment Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Road User Amendment Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Members’ Bills:
Climate Change (Transport Funding) Bill - First Reading
ACT to Oppose

Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill - First Reading
ACT to Support

Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill - First Reading
ACT to Oppose

Sustainable Biofuel Bill - First Reading
TBC

For a more detailed rundown of Parliament this week, click on 'In The House' or visit http://www.roy.org.nz/inthehouse.

The discovery of what has been described as a "massive fraud" at the Christchurch Polytechnic Students' Association (CPSA) has stregthened the case for student association membership to be made voluntary.

According to an article in today's 'Press' newspaper, former CPSA office manager Helen Lenihan has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for stealing $175,000 from the association - $125,000 of which was unrecoverable. The CPSA case is just the latest in a series of thefts or misuses of funds from student associations throughout the country.

'December 1999 - Brendan McQuillan, president of Nelson Polytechnic Student Association, admitted stealing $8,004. November 2003 - Florence bailey, office manager of Massey Students Association, jailed for two years and three months after stealing $203,000. November 2005 - Victoria University Maori Student Association treasurer Wi Nepia jailed for stealing $161,000. 2005 - Otago University's Te Roopu Maori, the Maori students' association collapsed amid allegations of financial impropriety. Estimated fraud $21,000. April 2007 - Clelia Opie, officer of Victoria University Students' Association, spends $6,000 on phone calls.'

The fact is that compulsory student association membership creates a pool of money and a lack of accountability on how that money is managed. Misuse of funds in a voluntary organisation would result in a loss of confidence by members in the executive. But in student organisations, despite frequent fraud and theft, students are still forced to pay union fees whether they want to or not. Student associations are also often plagued by accusations of advocating only the views of their executives rather than those of their wider memberships.

Student associations don't representation, they provide mis-representation. Along with the financial improprieties, these associations are plagued with accusations that they advocate only the views and opinions of their executives rather than those of their wider memberships.

Student associations are one of the last kinds of organisation in New Zealand that can compel membership, and we are now reaping what has been sown. Students are able to choose what university or polytechnic they attend, and can choose what papers to take - it's time they were given the freedom to choose whether or not to join their local student association.

With the media focussing much of our attention on the negative aspects of daily life - crime rates, troubled youth and the economic downturn - we could be forgiven for thinking that New Zealand, as a society, has lost its way.

News website 'Stuff' today featured an article based on the findings of the Reader's Digest New Zealand's Most Trusted survey. According to the survey, the individuals that New Zealanders trust the most are medal recipients and include: Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata, Olympic medallists Barbara Kendall, Peter Snell, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Valerie Vili, Hamish Carter and Dame Susan Devoy.

Clearly, New Zealanders still respect and admire the core Kiwi attributes of hard work, dedication and humility.

When you combine the attributes that these individuals all possess, you get a glimpse of the classic Kiwi mindset: we work hard, we persevere - but we don't get a big head about it. Small wonder that the late Sir Edmund Hillary was one of the most trusted New Zealanders of all time and one of our most beloved icons.

While it's great to see that we still celebrate success at this level, we should not forget to recognise and honour it at a more grass roots level as well.

The students and young people I have met while visiting schools in my capacity as Associate Minister of Education has already shown me that the future of our nation is in good hands. By continuing to laud the success of our young people in their pursuits - academic, sporting, or otherwise - we can ensure quality leaders for the generations to come.

It's feeling like it will be a long hard winter. With tightening budgets and increased power use a certainty over the next couple of months many people are trying to work out how to keep their electricity costs down. I'm getting plenty of letters about power prices in my Consumer Affairs portfolio.

I suspect most kiwis have no idea if they are on the right electricity pricing plan to suit their needs or whether they are signed up to the most appropriate electricity provider. I'm also pretty sure that not many know about Powerswitch. It is a free, independent, internet-based electricity cost comparison service that tells people the choices available to them and allows them to determine if they are signed up to the right plan.

The website is run by Consumer NZ who are contracted to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Up and running since 2001, it is increasingly becoming better known. The site had just over 10,000 visits in January 09, over 15,0000 in February and 13,500 in March. Predictably it is more heavily used in the winter months - in June last year 53,963 people visited.

The site is very user-friendly. Have your power bill ready, answer a few questions about your electricity and heating situation and you will receive a table with comparisons of companies and plans available in your area. Don't just moan about your electricity bill - go to www.powerswitch.org.nz and see if you already have the best deal, or maybe its time for a change.