Oscar Temaru ... cannabis support ruffles Tahitian legislators. Photo: Jason Brown, Avaiki Nius

Pacific Scoop:
By Oceania Flash in Papeete

Former French Polynesian President and now opposition leader Oscar Temaru has this week ignited yet another controversy by suggesting – during a parliamentary debate – that cannabis should be allowed for sale and consumption to visiting tourists.

Speaking during a debate that also heralded more stringent measures against smoking in public places, Temaru said the idea of promoting the cultivation of cannabis could be one way of “canalising” an already flourishing local production while at the same time restricting its use to overseas tourists only.

He said one avenue could be to explore the concept of restricted zones, which would allow for local jobs to be created thanks to the cannabis industry.

The cultivation of the illegal substance is a significant economic reality in French Polynesia, with latest estimated placing its “parallel” revenues to millions of US dollars a year.

“I am used to raising the disturbing questions. Have we really looked at the financial impact of such a measure on our country’s fiscal revenues? According to figures provided to me, those revenues are [US$70 million  dollars], where those from [cannabis] traffic are estimated at between [US$460 and 695 million],” he told MPs.

Temaru said many overseas tourists visiting French Polynesia were already asking for cannabis supply.

Temaru’s suggestion was met by a barrage of criticism from MPs, including current Health mMnister Jules Ienfa who said in substance that French Polynesia could in no way be likened to the Netherlands.

French Public Prosecutor José Thorel told local newspaper Les Nouvelles de Tahiti that as far as he was concerned, cannabis – locally known as “pakalolo” or “paka” – remained classified as an illegal substance in French jurisdictions, which includes French Polynesia as well.

Source: Oceania Flash