Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton says he's seeking an explanation for reports that the Customs Service is not pressing charges against some people who import cannabis seeds.
The Customs Service says it destroys any seeds it finds being sent by post and records the identity of the intended recipient, but prioritises laying charges against repeat offenders or those who try to import large quantities of seeds.
Jim Anderton says the law is clear that importing cannabis is illegal, no matter what the quantity and the Customs Service should not be picking and choosing whom to prosecute.
The president of cannabis law reform group Norml, Phil Saxby, says it would be a waste of time to prosecute small-scale or first-time offenders because the drug is prevalent in New Zealand already.
He says it would be better if the drug was legal, because people could declare seed imports and avoid any biosecurity risk.
