1 NEWS Breakfast host Jack Tame and visiting American drug expert Keith Graves have butted heads this morning, over the decriminalisation of cannabis in New Zealand.
As New Zealand continues to debate conflicting points of view, Mr Graves joined Tame to discuss where New Zealand is heading in terms of cannabis law reform, and what it can learn from states like Colorado and California in the US.
Mr Graves said New Zealand was following the US model of decriminalisation.
"There's not enough information coming out about the harm that's going to come out of legalisation," Mr Graves told host Tame.
Mr Graves added the impact on mental health from legislation had been "huge" in the US.
He was then quizzed by Tame on whether decriminalisation to regulate the drug could actually make cannabis harder for youth to access.
"What we've seen in Colorado is [it's] now number one for juvenile drug use in the nation. We've seen juvenile drug use of marijuana has gone up significantly," Mr Graves responded.
He said the black market for drugs "never" stopped, but Mr Tame pointed out there was not an organised black market for alcohol after prohibition was lifted.
Tame continued: "You remove the black market, that's the whole point.
"By decriminalising marijuana, at least you take out some of that aggression that's associated with alcohol and domestic violence."
Watch the full interview here.
Mr Tame then asked Mr Graves for his key piece of advice, with Mr Graves stressing fatal car collision related to drug use.
"We disagree on that point," Mr Tame said.
"My stats come straight from the White House," Mr Graves said.
"Mine come from the American Journal of Public Health," Mr Tame shot back.
He continued saying both sides of the argument could be subject to propaganda at times, to which Mr Graves agreed.
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