Nothing to do with local government

Stuff reports:

A Waimate councillor is calling for cannabis decriminalisation for the good of her community.

Sandy Mulqueen has formed a lobby group and has made a submission in the council’s long term plan outlining a project to decriminalise marijuana for personal and medicinal use. …

She believes the project will benefit Waimate.

Her proposal has not impressed Mayor John Coles who says she should take the matter up with central government.

“She’s come to the wrong place; I will leave it with my council.”

The group plans to compose an information brochure to go to every Waimate resident aged over 16, with reasons for, and details of the project, and a voting form.

“Completion of this project will have a positive effect on the well being of our community and better reflect the wishes of the people in Waimate and the wider community; thus it fulfils council’s core purposes under the Local Government Act,” she says.

This is proof positive why we need to tighten the focus of local government. This is an issue that has nothing to do with the Waimate District Council.

As it happens, I also support a change to our drug laws – along the lines recommended by the Law Commission. However that doesn’t mean I want local Councils getting involved and lobbying on the issue. Cr Mulqueen should focus on roads, rates and infrastructure.