On Drugs

Islands Warned

Tonga, alarmed at the invasion by ug takers, warned other Islanders Rarotonga’s South Pacific Confer ice in October to “try to stop the affic of narcotic drugs before it ;ts to your beautiful shores”. The arning was sounded by Maafu apou, Governor of Vavau, who [vised, “Look out for your yachts en and check on your volunteers”, e reported that two American jace Corps Volunteers and a madian volunteer had recently en deported after appearing on arges connected with the cultiva >n in Vavau of marihuana.

The men said the drug was grown r their own use. Fining them, the igistrate ordered that half the lount of the fines be paid to two •ngan farmers who reported the ;n.

Meanwhile, the Congress of Micro sia has taken speedy action to off a judgment by Chief Justice irold W. Burnett invalidating the ritory drug statutes. This had had 1 effect of making the smoking of rihuana legal. Congress passed a v law which strengthens the codes ating to the use of drugs and im ;es more severe penalties for isession of marihuana. \merican Samoa’s Legislature also sed a bill increasing penalties for g offences.