Drug related harms and the costs to society remain high in New Zealand, with a growing consensus that the current enforcement led approach is not working.
- We have one of the highest rates of use in the world: 52% of New Zealanders aged 15 – 45 admit to having used cannabis at some time, and 16% describe themselves as current users.
- Use rose more than 20% from 1990 to 1998, a period of tougher laws and increased arrests.
- The 2012 United Nations 2012 Drug Report confirmed we are still among the top pot users in the world.
- There are too many cannabis consumers to arrest: over half a million Kiwis regularly break the law on cannabis, including 70,000 on a daily basis!
Government action is needed “now, more than ever” to consider all the alternatives to our failing drug laws and learn from countries that have adopted a more evidence based approach. We are concerned that, in this age of austerity, nobody is checking whether New Zealands’s current approach is value for money – or money wasted. We therefore call on the Government to commission an authoritative and independent cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 within the next 12 months, in order to provide the evidence for Parliament to pursue a more effective drugs policy in the future.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 9, 2016
August 7, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures to end these outdated drug laws. Send a text to three friends right now and demand they add their name to the list.
Reached 100 supporters
August 5, 2015
August 4, 2015
We need to hit the one hundred mark to prove our momentum to the government. Post this link on your Facebook feed right now and text three friends to get them to sign.
180 Comments
Legal cannabis could help reduce the damage done to individuals and society by providing a safe alternative to alcohol. Legal cannabis would be available in forms that do not require smoking or the raw herb can be used in a vaporizer limiting the health risks.
My husband uses marijuana medicinally and has now lost his job to random testing. We are about to lose our home and are facing bankruptcy because the medicinal properties of pot work better than pharmacuticals do, how is that fair?
I have suffered chronic neck and back pain for the last 20 years.my chiropractor is all for me using cannabis as an anti anflametry and for pain relief rather than the toxic pain meds.also recently diagnoised with cancer.it will be part of my life til i die wheather legal or not.
Giving people criminal records over a plant that has been used safely for thousands of years is criminal. Ban alcohol and tobacco as they do and will continue to do far more harm to society.
Should be able to do what you like as long as your not harming others. Legalizing would reduce drug harm . Legalizing would stop gangs and criminals from profiting and instead increase economic activity and tax revenue for the government.
Time to lead.
Good on you
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Drug related harms and the costs to society remain high in New Zealand, with a growing consensus that the current enforcement led approach is not working.
- We have one of the highest rates of use in the world: 52% of New Zealanders aged 15 – 45 admit to having used cannabis at some time, and 16% describe themselves as current users.
- Use rose more than 20% from 1990 to 1998, a period of tougher laws and increased arrests.
- The 2012 United Nations 2012 Drug Report confirmed we are still among the top pot users in the world.
- There are too many cannabis consumers to arrest: over half a million Kiwis regularly break the law on cannabis, including 70,000 on a daily basis!
Government action is needed “now, more than ever” to consider all the alternatives to our failing drug laws and learn from countries that have adopted a more evidence based approach. We are concerned that, in this age of austerity, nobody is checking whether New Zealands’s current approach is value for money – or money wasted. We therefore call on the Government to commission an authoritative and independent cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 within the next 12 months, in order to provide the evidence for Parliament to pursue a more effective drugs policy in the future.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 9, 2016
August 7, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures to end these outdated drug laws. Send a text to three friends right now and demand they add their name to the list.
Reached 100 supporters
August 5, 2015
August 4, 2015
We need to hit the one hundred mark to prove our momentum to the government. Post this link on your Facebook feed right now and text three friends to get them to sign.
180 Comments
With the increased taxation on Tobacco, it is time to bring a healthier and more fun smoking alternative. If Colorado can make $2b in Marijuana taxation in the first semester, it's easy to see that the government can make similar money from the same product. Green power!
Legal cannabis could help reduce the damage done to individuals and society by providing a safe alternative to alcohol. Legal cannabis would be available in forms that do not require smoking or the raw herb can be used in a vaporizer limiting the health risks.
My husband uses marijuana medicinally and has now lost his job to random testing. We are about to lose our home and are facing bankruptcy because the medicinal properties of pot work better than pharmacuticals do, how is that fair?
I have suffered chronic neck and back pain for the last 20 years.my chiropractor is all for me using cannabis as an anti anflametry and for pain relief rather than the toxic pain meds.also recently diagnoised with cancer.it will be part of my life til i die wheather legal or not.
Giving people criminal records over a plant that has been used safely for thousands of years is criminal. Ban alcohol and tobacco as they do and will continue to do far more harm to society.
Should be able to do what you like as long as your not harming others. Legalizing would reduce drug harm . Legalizing would stop gangs and criminals from profiting and instead increase economic activity and tax revenue for the government.
Time to lead.
Good on you
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With the increased taxation on Tobacco, it is time to bring a healthier and more fun smoking alternative. If Colorado can make $2b in Marijuana taxation in the first semester, it's easy to see that the government can make similar money from the same product. Green power!