johnboy
Bluelight Crew
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MPs 'should go to rave parties'
LISA ALLISON 05jul06
DEMOCRATS MP Sandra Kanck wants politicians to attend rave parties to learn first-hand about the drugs they are legislating about.
The MLC also said yesterday that partygoers taking illicit drugs such as ecstasy should test the drugs themselves to check they are safe.
Ms Kanck, who attended the Winter Enchanted rave party last Saturday for research purposes, said she had gone with prominent doctor and prominent pro-drug testing campaigner Dr David Caldicott to see for herself what a "rave" was like. "I would like to see a lot of other MPs do the same," she said.
The move comes after her recent controversial comments to Parliament that ecstasy was not a dangerous drug. She "did not see a single pill" but said she had spoken to many people who wished "more politicians would come and look for themselves".
They included people who told her they tested their own pills. "(Two) people told me they have their own pill testing kits," she said. "Many of the kids are smart enough to know about these things - it is a sensible thing to do."
Her first preference was that people did not take the drugs, but in the absence of formal testing mechanisms, people should test their own.
"If the Government won't give approval for a supported trial then I think young people who are choosing to take illicit drugs should get hold of their own testing kits," Ms Kanck said. "The message has got to be 'protect yourself'." Dr Caldicott said Ms Kanck was one of the few politicians who had come to witness a rave for themselves.
"She was happy to listen to people telling her about a whole lot of things about a different drugs," Dr Caldicott said. "She probably knows a lot more about it now than most politicians."
He said the kits were widely available in shops and via the internet. Police confirmed the kits were not illegal.
Dr Caldicott was among a group of doctors, nurses and others who were surveying the 2000-plus crowd about issues including their attitudes to the new drug-driving laws and the term "recreational drugs"
Meanwhile, Democrats state president Richard Pascoe confirmed he was ready to tender his resignation at a party meeting on Monday night, but was talked out of it by members of the party's executive.
However, he is still considering his future with the party.
Good onya Sandra! Reasonably unhysterical story from the 'tiser, actually.
[EDIT: URL: The Advertiser. hoptis]
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