The government has promised a referendum on legalising the personal use of cannabis by the 2020 election. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get real cannabis law reform.
We know our current laws do a lot of damage. Over 3,000 people clog up the criminal justice system each year with cannabis convictions. And these convictions have devastating long-term effects on travel, getting credit and employment. Yet cannabis continues to be the most commonly consumed illict drug in New Zealand.
So it’s time to take cannabis out of hands of the black market, stop harmful convictions, break down the barriers to getting help and minimise the problems caused by drug use.
Why is legalising cannabis the right way to go?
A tightly regulated scheme based is the best way to protect people from the harms of cannabis. The right system can:
Minimise harm |
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Respect human rights |
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Safer communities with less drug-related crime |
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Equity for Māori |
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Reduce the black market and tax cannabis |
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Community development |
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Legalising cannabis also makes sound economic sense. An independent economic analysis reported cannabis would save New Zealand’s criminal justice sector $6-13 million every year. And generate $185 - $240 million of new revenue. This new revenue would more than pay for extra investment in health New Zealand desperately needs.
If you have similar goals to us, we hope you’ll sign up to our campaign.