A Positive Look at the Cannabis Referendum.

[Kali Mercier. Policy and Advocacy Manager, New Zealand Drug Foundation]

There are just 8 weeks to run until the cannabis referendum on 19 September. While I’m cautiously optimistic that New Zealanders will vote ‘Yes’ to legal control of cannabis, it’s going to be a tough race and I’m in no way complacent — the polls show that we can’t afford to be.

Voting preferences are split firmly by age, so it’s super important that students educate themselves on this issue and get out and vote. Recent polls show 63% of those aged 18-29 plan to vote yes to legal cannabis, whereas only 34% of those over 60 do. Older generations are far more likely to be enrolled and to turn up on voting day than young people. So unless you want to leave your grandparents to decide this one for you (I hope you don’t), you need to enrol and vote — and make sure your friends do, too.

Cannabis is illegal in Aotearoa, yet anyone can buy it easily. This is not about creating a new market, or encouraging people to use - people are already using. And the biggest group of users? 15-24 yearolds, nearly a third of whom used cannabis last year, despite it being illegal.

Young people under thirty are lumbered with nearly half of the several thousand cannabis convictions that are still handed out every year -and they are also the ones who have the most to lose in terms of lives and careers from those convictions.

Māori also suffer under our current laws. They are 3 times more likely to get a cannabis conviction than non-Māori with the same level of cannabis use. That is simply shocking to me. Legalisation will mean fewer Māori coming into contact with the criminal justice system and fewer trapped in endless cycles of reconviction.

If New Zealanders vote ‘yes’, Police will instead be freed up to focus on serious crime. Each year, we spend almost $200 million on cannabis enforcement and convictions — I’m sure you will agree that this could be put to better use.

Then there are the people who use cannabis therapeutically. The evidence is clear that cannabis can be an effective medicine for a range of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain and nausea from some cancer treatments.

While medicinal cannabis is technically legal in New Zealand with a prescription, there are few products available and they are very expensive because they are not subsidised. Patients are still forced to source illicit products, putting them at risk of a conviction. Legal cannabis would mean easier access to a wider range of products, and would make prices more affordable. Patients will be able to access the medicine that works for them without fear of prosecution.

The icing on the legal cake would be the estimated $490 million of new taxes that we can put towards health and education for all New Zealanders. A levy will be put aside specifically to fund cannabisrelated education, prevention and treatment. That money is currently going direct to the illicit market, un-taxed.

With cannabis legal we can work towards specific public health and social outcomes — something that is simply impossible under prohibition. For example, we can impact use patterns by setting price limits, potency limits, rules around packaging, quality control, age limits and many more.

Cannabis will continue to be illegal for those under 20 years of age. For those over 20, you’ll be able to buy it only in stand-alone licensed stores. You’ll be able to consume it at home or in a small number of licensed consumption spaces — but not on the street or in parks. You’ll be able to grow plants at home too, but no more than four plants per household.

Legalisation means control. What we have now is anarchy and injustice. I encourage you to go and double check that you are enrolled to vote in the election (do it now). Most importantly, turn up on election day, and make sure all your friends do too.

If you don’t, the older generation will literally be making the decision for you. This referendum is too important to leave to other people to decide — make sure your voice is heard.

Healthnothandcuffs.org.nz | OnOurTerms.org.nz | DrugFoundation.org.nz/policy-and-advocacy/vote-yes