The reason I want to see the law change is because I have seen so many young lives affected by being prosecuted for insignificant amounts of cannabis and other drugs. It may be that they have parking or driving offences, however it’s the drug offences that they end up in prison for. My own life was spent in and out of court for drug related offending and I know the toll this took on me and those around me. I also had 4 years of a partner being in jail, missing the birth of his daughter all because of drugs. He needed treatment as did I, we both finally received that 3 years later. I’ve also more recently seen the serious impact of a family member caught in the web of dealing for gangs. This world continues to be next level dodgy & unsafe, my heart shrinks at the impact of this and the related consequences.
Drug law reform would remove drugs from organised crime, it would position those needing help to have a health based approach and it would remove the stigma that is so associated with drug use. I think we would also see a decrease in the harm caused by drugs and less young people using as has been the case in Portugal, Canada & the USA. As well as a change in policing style such as Portugal uses. It is time to change, it is time to improve our approach to drugs in Aotearoa.