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The Advertiser
Edition 1 - StateSAT 13 MAY 2006, Page 001
MP says ecstasy isn't dangerous
By CRAIG BILDSTIEN, KARA PHILLIPS
STATE MP Sandra Kanck says ecstasy - which has been linked to more than 110 deaths in three years - "is not a dangerous drug''.
The Democrats leader told Parliament that after 20 years, there was still no "evidence that it is a dangerous substance''.
She suggested the drug could have been given to victims of last year's fatal Eyre Peninsula bushfires to help them cope with their trauma.
Bushfire recovery effort chairman Vince Monterola said he was astounded by the comment, labelling it "an absurd proposition''.
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse warns that ecstasy, also known as MDMA, "is not safe for human consumption''.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty last month warned that a mistaken belief by young Australians that ecstasy was relatively safe was "by far the biggest drug problem'' facing Australia.
The Federal Government spent $23 million last year warning of the dangers following revelations by the Australian Crime Commission that per capita, Australians are the biggest users in the world.
Substance Abuse Minister Gail Gago said 112 ecstasy-related deaths nationally between 2001 and 2004 was "ample evidence'' the drug was harmful.
"Health experts, psychiatric experts and the community do not want a pro-drug policy,'' she said.
Ms Kanck - the last remaining Democrat in the the SA Parliament - announced on Wednesday that she intended to retire from politics at the 2010 election and was therefore "not scared of a public backlash'' by taking a stand against mainstream opinion.
However, the party's state president, Richard Pascoe, yesterday called on her to stand aside within 12 months, saying he supported defeated MP Kate Reynolds taking her spot in the Legislative Council.
In a wide-ranging speech on drugs, Ms Kanck said she was "quite disturbed'' by what she called "an emerging trend of conservatism in politics''.
She claimed "progressive politics'' was the loser from the March poll, which saw the election of anti-drugs campaigner Ann Bressington, Family First's Dennis Hood and Green Mark Parnell.
"I remind members who might think that all drugs are evil that Jesus partook of wine. He did not have any silly laws that said `this drug is legal, and this one isn't legal','' she said.
"We have been told that ecstasy is a dangerous substance. We do not have the evidence.
The original 1985 listing of ecstasy, or MDMA, is still being contested. So more than 20 years later, the matter has not yet been resolved.
"In fact, I was saying to people last year after the bushfires on Eyre Peninsula, with all the trauma that was associated with it, that one of the best things you could probably have done for the people on EP who had gone through that trauma was to give them MDMA.
"However, one dare not advocate that, because we are all being tough on drugs, aren't we?''
"Good God,'' is how Eyre Peninsula farmer and SA Farmers Federation executive member Paul Kaden reacted to Ms Kanck's suggestions about dispensing the drug to traumatised bushfire victims.
"That's one of the strangest comments I've ever heard and totally irresponsible,'' he said.
His comments were echoed by new Family First MP Mr Hood, who described the statement as "beyond belief''.
Mr Hood said that Ms Kanck had clearly "lost touch''. "It is very disappointing.''
[EDIT: The Advertiser Added link. hoptis]
And a followup article ....
Party fury puts Kanck on brink
Nigel Hunt
14may06
CONTROVERSIAL Democrats MP Sandra Kanck could be sacked by her party following inflammatory comments endorsing the use of the deadly designer drug ecstasy.
Her political future will be discussed at a meeting of party executives as early as tomorrow night, according to state president Richard Pascoe.
He said yesterday "everything is up for negotiation" following a groundswell of outrage from party members.
At the meeting, a decision will be made whether to call an extraordinary meeting of members.
At that meeting, a ballot could be held to oust her as the Democrats' sole MP in state Parliament.
This would throw the position open for another member – likely to be former MLC Kate Reynolds – to take Ms Kanck's place in the Upper House.
Mr Pascoe said he planned to meet Ms Kanck, who was in Melbourne yesterday, as soon as possible to discuss her comments and her future.
"Let me emphasise it is a Sandra Kanck statement, not a Democrats statement," he said.
On Wednesday, Ms Kanck announced plans to retire at the 2010 election and then, later that night in parliament, said there was no evidence that ecstasy was a dangerous drug.
She said its original listing as a "damaging and addictive" drug in the US in 1985 was still being contested.
Trials to determine if MDMA – ecstasy – could be used to treat sufferers of post-traumatic stress syndrome were underway in the US.
"We have been told that ecstasy is a dangerous substance. We do not have the evidence; the Australian Government has followed down the path of doing this without the evidence," she told the House.
"So, more than 20 years later, the matter has not been resolved. Yet we are being asked to believe that this is a dangerous substance. We do not have evidence that it is a dangerous substance.
"In fact, I was saying to people last year, after the bushfires on Eyre Peninsula, with all the trauma that was associated with it, that one of the best things you could probably have done for the people on Eyre Peninsula who had gone through that trauma was to give them MDMA.
"However, one dare not advocate that because we are all being tough on drugs, aren't we?"
Ms Kanck's comments on ecstasy, which has been linked to 112 deaths in Australia between 2001 and 2004, have also been attacked by victims' families, anti-drug campaigners and her fellow politicians.
When asked if Ms Kanck had compromised the standing of the Democrats, Mr Pascoe replied' "my personal view is that yes, she has".
"I was shocked at it when I read it," he said.
"I feel for the victims of the Eyre Peninsula bushfires and overdose victims' families. It is a very disappointing thing to read ... "
Party insiders said former Democrat MLC Kate Reynolds, who was defeated in the March election, was "the obvious choice" to replace Ms Kanck if she was ousted by the membership. Ms Reynolds had gained a high-profile and considerable respect within the party after her appointment to serve out the remainder of the term of former Democrat leader Mike Elliott following his resignation.
Ms Reynolds yesterday declined to comment directly on Ms Kanck's comments.
However, she said she was prepared to consider filling any vacancy that may become available.
"If there is a casual vacancy, depending on when that occurs, I am prepared to put myself forward to the membership for preselection," she said.
Ms Kanck was also cut adrift by the federal party yesterday, with leader Lyn Allison distancing the party from Ms Kanck's comments.
"The federal party certainly doesn't endorse the use of ecstasy in the alleviation of pain," she said.
"We don't endorse the use of ecstasy full stop."
Ms Kanck could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
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