This section focuses on the legal status of Cannabis for medical and recreational use.
The prohibition of cannabis in New Zealand is a hot topic in this election. Opponents of the current law argue that regulation is safer then black market dealings and that cannabis is a relatively harmless drug compared to currently legal drugs such as alcohol. Proponents state that Cannabis is a harmful drug to young peoples developing brains and is a gateway drug to harder substances such as methamphetamine.
Legalise medical cannabis || Decriminalise posession of cannabis for personal use || Introduce legal age limit for personal use
Legalise and tax cannabis for medical and personal use.
Legalise personal cannabis use, with individuals allowed to grow up to 2 plants at a time. Commercial growers would have to be licensed, with the potency and purity of the products to be regulated.
Public advertising would be restricted to avoid commercialisation.
The minimum age would be set at 20 years old for both purchase and use. Fines would be introduced for selling to minors, driving under the influence, and production without a license.
Price would be controlled by the government, taxed based on potency levels.
Click here to see the full policy documentLegalise medical and personal use of cannabis.
Legalisation of cannabis for medical use, and legalisation for personal use once overseas experiences with legal cannabis markets have been reviewed. Cultivation for personal use will be legalised.
Penalties for therapeutic use for any person with a terminal illness, or a chronic or debilitating condition would be removed, provided they have the support of a registered medical professional.
An age limit would be introduced. Education would be provided on the drug. The current model for driving under the influence of cannabis will be replaced with one that is based on cannabinoid levels that correlates with impairment.
Cannabis would be specifically included in the provisions of the Smokefree Environments Act.
Click here to see the full policy documentThis party has not presented a policy for this issue (see below for stance).
The Maori Party has stated in their health policy that they would “remove criminal penalties for the possession and personal use of certain illicit drugs” but do not specifically mention cannabis.
Only change cannabis laws via referendum
Oppose liberalization of cannabis laws, and would only allow change following a referendum. The issue would no longer be decided by politicians.
Click here to see the full policy documentThis party has not presented a policy for this issue (see below for stance).
ACT leader David Seymour can be quoted as saying that he would legalise cannabis, but public opinion was not in support of a full scale repeal of the law.
This party has not presented a policy for this issue (see below for stance).
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern recently stated that she “absolutely” supported legalisation of medical cannabis use, and that “no one should be jailed for smoking cannabis” (mentioned on national debate).
This party has not presented a policy for this issue.
N/A.
Reclassify Class C drugs
United Future do not have a specific policy on cannabis, but have proposed changes to the law for all Class C drugs.
They would move Class C drugs from under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and place them under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. This would allow for suppliers to submit drugs for testing to ensure safety. Once the Ministry of Health is satisfied that a drug is low-risk, that supplier may be granted a license to research, retail, import or manufacture.