NEWS
New Zealanders will
vote on legalisation of
recreational cannabis
A referendum will take place during the 2020 general election
New Zealand is to vote on whether to
legalise cannabis for recreational use.
The vote will take place during the
general election in 2020.
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cannabis from licensed premises.
“This could be in the form of a modular
bill which allows one or both divisions to
be passed, depending on the outcome
of the referendum.”
Research commissioned by the NZ Drug
Foundation found that legalisation could
net the country $240 million in tax revenue
and save $13 million in criminal justice
spending.
“This binding
referendum presents
an opportunity to have
the will of the people
trigger meaningful
legislative change”
The news came a week after the government
passed a law allowing terminally-ill people
to use illicit cannabis without the risk of
criminal prosecution.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern agreed
to undertake a referendum on cannabis
reform as a concession to Labour’s Green
Party coalition partners following the last
general election back in 2017.
Green Party spokesperson, Chloe Swarbrick,
said: “We’ve had countless opinion polls for
decades now, confirming New Zealanders
are positively well ahead of political action
on the issue of cannabis law reform.
“This binding referendum presents an
opportunity to have the will of the people
trigger meaningful legislative change.”
National Party leader Simon Bridges expressed
his concerns about the potential impact
recreational cannabis can have on the
community.
Mr Bridges said: “I worry about the harm,
I see the debilitating effects in all manner
of communities, I worry about mental health
and I think the messaging of saying ‘Look,
decriminalisation, [there’s] no issue in terms
of harm’ will mean harm rises.”
As the referendum is binding, it may take
some time for parties to agree on exactly
what question voters will be asked.
Cannabis Reform Coalition spokesperson,
Sarah Murray, said: “Our coalition reiterates
our preference for a two-part question that
asks firstly whether people support adults
being able to possess and grow cannabis
for personal use and secondly whether
they support adults being able to buy