Tag: New Zealand

New Zealand may become the third country to pass a cannabis legalization measure. It all depends on whether or not New Zealand voters approve a cannabis legalization referendum measure next month during New Zealand’s election.

The election in New Zealand was originally scheduled to occur this month, and along with it the vote on the legalization measure, however, a coronavirus outbreak resulted in the election being delayed by roughly a month.

Polling for the legalization measure has been all over the place, with several polls showing the measure winning and several others showing that the measure is losing. What will happen on Election Day in New Zealand, which is now October 17th, is anyone’s guess at this point.

The New Zealand legalization effort received a boost recently via a new poster campaign in support of the referendum. The poster campaign features 60 people expressing support for the measure, and one of those people is former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Per RNZ:

It includes some familiar faces, like Helen Clark, as well as everyday Kiwis who support legalisation.

Dame Diane Robertson is one of those 60 New Zealanders. She’s the executive director of the New Zealand Data Trust, and the former Auckland City Mission chief executive.

“I think it’s time we legalise something that has been commonly used but at the moment we’re penalising people, particularly people who are low income and Māori about a drug that a lot of people are using … it’s a waste of police time, of resources and it marginalises people.”

It’s not every day that a former prime minister of a nation endorses a national cannabis legalization effort. This is obviously a really big deal.

Whether or not it proves to be a big enough deal to resonate with enough New Zealand voters to push the measure over the top remains to be seen and we will ultimately find out on October 17th.

If the measure is successful New Zealand would become the third country to legalize cannabis for adult use along with Uruguay and Canada.

New Zealand is the only country voting on a national cannabis legalization measure in 2020. As of right now, adult-use cannabis is only legal in two countries – Uruguay and Canada.

Two other countries, Mexico and Italy, are in the process of implementing previous court rulings which determined that cannabis prohibition is unconstitutional in those nations.

A handful of other countries are exploring pilot programs that would legalize cannabis for adult-use in limited instances.

The cannabis legalization measure in New Zealand is part of the overall General Election, which was originally scheduled to take place on September 19, 2020. However, a recent COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the election, and with it the vote on legalization, being moved to October. Per Stuff:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delayed the 2020 election by a month, with a new polling day set for October 17.

Ardern has been under increasing pressure to delay the election, previously set for September 19, after Auckland was placed in a two-week lockdown due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the community, leading to a halt in most political campaigning.

Parliament will now dissolve on September 6, with early voting starting on October 3 and overseas voting starting on September 30. The two referendums scheduled to coincide with the election will also be moved.

Polling for the cannabis legalization measure has been all over the board, with some polls showing it losing and others showing that it will win once it is voted on. Ultimately, only time will tell.

The delayed vote could prove to be a blessing for cannabis advocates because it gives them more time to convince voters that cannabis prohibition is a failure and that it’s time for a more sensible approach.

To be fair, it also provides more time for opponents to pursue their goal of convincing voters in New Zealand that prohibition is working.

With two months until the vote, opinion polls in New Zealand are beginning to pull slightly ahead in favour of legalization of adult-use cannabis. According to one poll which was published at the end of June, 56% of respondents plan to vote for legalization on September 19. Slightly more women than men (59 to 52%) plan to change the law.

The reason this national vote is quite so momentous is that this is also the date of the New Zealand national elections for president. When Americans go to the polls in November, however, they do not get to vote on federal national reform of the recreational kind. That is why the Kiwi vote is also one the rest of the world is watching right now.

Here is the other interesting nugget about the timing. Beyond the general political refurbishment on the regular schedule, in other words, and cannabis legalization, there are also other big issues on the ballot, like right to die regulations. Beyond legalizing adult use, in other words, there are major public policy issues at stake as well as a national election that are also likely to create heavy turnout and draw out both older and younger voters. Older voters everywhere are also beginning to come around on the issue, but even in New Zealand, this is a demographic with the lowest support for recreational reform. As usual, the highest numbers poll in those in their twenties and thirties.

Why Would A Victory In New Zealand Matter?

This is a very strategic election right now, globally, for the entire issue of cannabis reform. If the measure passes, it will also turn the country into the third (after Canada and Uruguay) which have effectively normalized the entire cannabis conversation.

This in turn will only galvanize activists if not the industry elsewhere – most notably both Europe and the United States (if not Australia beyond that). The industry is slowly starting to normalize, but the endless problems between in-progress regulations (and of every kind) and reform still on drawing boards is absolutely hindering the industry everywhere.

If the Kiwis in other words, move to legalize cannabis for consumers over 20 years old in September, look for that green tide to sweep globally.

The next step for recreational reform is clearly on the agenda will, in other words, be given a big push forward.

For evolving updates on global policy and business regulations, be sure to stay tuned to the International Cannabis Business Conference blog and the return of the conferences everywhere!

As it stands right now, there are two countries that have legalized cannabis for adult use. The first to do so was Uruguay, and the second was Canada. Both countries have experienced their ups and downs when it comes to implementing legalization, but by most measures, the policy change has been a success.

Two other countries, Mexico and Italy, have had Supreme Court decisions rendered which deemed cannabis prohibition to be unconstitutional in those nations. Lawmakers in both countries are working to pass measures to implement legalization per the Court’s directives.

New Zealand will be voting on cannabis legalization in September, and unfortunately for cannabis reform supporters, the latest polling is not favorable. Per 1 News:

Those polled were asked if they are planning on voting for cannabis to be legalised or to remain illegal at this year’s referendum:

Legalise: 40% (up 1 from February’s poll)
Remain illegal: 49% (down 2)
Will not vote: 1%
Don’t know/refused: 11% (down 2)

*Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.

The results of this poll are clearly disappointing, however, cannabis advocates and activists in New Zealand should use it as an opportunity to get motivated and spread the word about the benefits of cannabis legalization, as well as the harms of prohibition.

Cannabis prohibition is a harmful public policy no matter where it exists, and New Zealand is no exception. Hopefully the polling is off, and people are just scared to answer ‘no’ to a pollster yet plan on voting ‘yes’ on Election Day, which is a common phenomenon in places where cannabis is prohibited.

New Zealanders will go to the polls on September 19 to vote on recreational cannabis reform. The draft referendum has now been published.

Here are the main points of the legislation, which assume, broadly, that the measure will pass:

• Adults 20 years and older will be able to buy products from licensed stores (no home delivery allowed)
• Purchases will be limited to 14 grams of flower at a time
• No advertising will be allowed. Plain packaging will be mandated
• Home grow will be limited to two plants per person and 4 per household

Social Responsibility A Big Part Of The Legislation

One of the most interesting parts of the draft legislation is its desire to address issues that have plagued the industry just about everywhere else. Notably, the intent seems to be less profitability and revenues and more about a “race to the top.” Namely social responsibility and inclusion seem to be on the front burner of reform here.

No one company will be able to control more than 20% of the market share, and further, there will be set-asides for micro cultivators.

So far, this kind of mandate has been unseen in any other national cannabis reform.

What Might Be Available?

The first products to become available will be fresh and dried cannabis, plants, and seeds. However, edibles and concentrates will also be legal. Some products will be banned outright, including drinks and any packaged “cannabis containing roots or stems.”

Taxes will be applied at the point of packaging and labeling and will further be based on a combination of weight and potency.

Will The Referendum Succeed?

Passage of the referendum, of course, is still far from certain, but a growing number of Kiwis seem to think that recreational reform is a good idea. If passed, the country will become one of the few, outside Canada and Uruguay, that has taken the proverbial recreational cannabis bull by the horns. 

New Zealand has just started its medical cultivation program. It is conceivable that, because of this, the recreational referendum will fail. However, with the UN set to vote on the rescheduling of cannabis this December, and the desperate need for economic stimulus just about everywhere thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic, plus growing support of the idea domestically, New Zealand might well, as of September, become a global leader in the ongoing cannabis discussion.

To stay abreast of the latest trends in the global cannabis industry, be sure to book your tickets to the International Cannabis Business Conference when it returns to Europe!

Voters in New Zealand will get the chance to vote on a cannabis legalization measure on Election Day. New Zealand’s election will be held on September 19, 2020. So far only two countries have legalized cannabis for adult use – Canada and Uruguay. Court decisions in Mexico and Italy have established case law for legalization, however, measures have yet to be implemented on the public policy side of the equation.

It is the hope of cannabis advocates everywhere that New Zealand’s legalization measure passes. Unfortunately for the cannabis reform movement in New Zealand and elsewhere, a recent poll shows that support for the measure is currently well under the required majority threshold for it to win. Per 1 News:

New Zealanders are more likely to vote against legalisation of cannabis in the upcoming referendum, according to the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll.

Those polled were asked, ‘At this stage, do you think you will vote for cannabis to be legalised, or for cannabis to remain illegal?’

Remain illegal – 51%
Legalise cannabis – 39%
Will not vote – 1%
Don’t know / refused – 9%

The poll found that the most opposition was found among people that self-reported as being ‘Asian New Zealanders, National Party supports and people aged 55 and over.’ Younger people were more likely to support the legalization measure. Below are some of the provisions of the referendum that New Zealand voters will see on Election Day:

• A minimum purchase and used age of 20;
• Ban on all marketing and advertising of cannabis products;
• Requires harm minimization messaging in the retailing of cannabis;
• Prohibits consumption in public places and limits use to private homes and specifically license premises;
• Limits sale of cannabis to specifically licensed physical stores (not online or remote sales);
• Strict controls and regulations on the potency of cannabis;
• Establishes a state licensing regime that all stages of the growing and supply chain are licensed and controlled by the Government, and will limit the amount of cannabis that is allowed to be grown.

There’s a lot of time between now and Election Day, so hopefully the numbers will trend upwards as the vote approaches. It’s also quite possible that the poll results are misleading due to a phenomenon in which people don’t want to admit that they support legalization out of fear, yet ultimately plan on voting for legalization when given the chance to do so in private.

It’s official – New Zealand will hold its election on September 19th, 2020. Voters in New Zealand will decide whether or not to pass a cannabis legalization measure on Election Day 2020. The New Zealand Electoral Commission announced the official date of the election earlier today.

According to an official government page dedicated to the New Zealand cannabis referendum, “The Government has released a draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill for public consideration. The draft Bill describes the key aspects of proposed rules about growing, selling and purchasing cannabis for recreational purposes. The Government is publishing a draft Bill at this point to ensure that New Zealanders are informed about the direction being taken and the decisions that have been made to date. The final draft Bill, which will be released in early 2020, will contain more detail and take into account feedback on the current draft.”

An official release date for the final draft of the bill has yet to be announced. Until then, below are some of the provisions that were included in the draft version of the bill:

• Proposed ballot language – “Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?”
• Sets legal age at 20 years old
• Confines consumption to private residences and licensed premises
• Prescribed conditions for personal cultivation and gifting
• Licensed supply chain

The referendum is not necessarily binding, at least according to some lawmakers in New Zeland, although lawmakers in New Zealand’s majority have stated previously that they plan to treat the vote as being binding.

According to the previously cited government page, “If more than 50% of the vote is ‘Yes’, recreational use of cannabis won’t become legal straight away. After the election, the incoming Government will need to follow a process to introduce a Bill to Parliament that would make recreational use of cannabis legal. This process would include the opportunity for the public to share their thoughts and ideas on how the law might work.”

To date, only Uruguay and Canada have passed legalization measures and implemented adult-use cannabis legalization. Mexico and Italy have had court decisions rendered that found cannabis prohibition to be unconstitutional, however, neither of the nations have implemented adult-use cannabis legalization.

New Zealand voters will see a cannabis legalization measure on Election Day next year. The details of the measure have been highly anticipated, and New Zealand’s government unveiled some of those details today.

So far only two countries have legalized cannabis for adult use. Those countries are of course Uruguay and Canada. A number of other nations have held significant discussions regarding cannabis legalization, however, New Zealand appears poised to become the third country to legalize cannabis for adult-use.

It’s possible that another country, such as Luxembourg, could legalize cannabis for adult-use prior to Election Day in New Zealand next year, but regardless of if that happens or not, legalization will get a vote in at least one country in 2020.

Hopefully, that vote is favorable. Below is a press release that New Zealand’s government published today regarding the unveiling of the cannabis legalization measure’s details:

The first release of public information on the two referendums to be held at next year’s General Election was made today with an informative new Government website going live.

Additionally, the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill has been released, showing the strict controls on cannabis that will apply if the voters choose to legalise cannabis.

The first cross-party meeting on the Cannabis Bill will occur later this week.

“It is important that voters go into the 2020 General Election informed about the referendums. The Government is committed to a well-informed, impartial referendum process.

“By making the referendum questions and the initial draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill available early the intention is to encourage public awareness and discussion. It is important that the public feel they can meaningfully participate in the referendum process.

“I have invited representatives from each party represented in Parliament to meet with me this Thursday to provide their feedback on the draft Bill”

“My aim is to have the final draft Bill available by early next year, so there is time to argue for change,” says Justice Minister Andrew Little.

The wording of the cannabis referendum question has also been confirmed as a straight Yes/No question:

Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?

Yes, I support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill

No, I do not support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill

The wording of the end of life choice referendum, previously announced, is also a straight Yes/No question:

Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2017 coming into force?

Yes, I support the End of Life Choice Act 2017 coming into force
No, I do not support the End of Life Choice Act 2017 coming into force

The website, www.referendum.govt.nz provides information on the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill and the End of Life Choice Act.

The website sets out key features of the draft law for the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill.

“The primary objective of the legislation is to reduce overall cannabis use and limit the ability of young people to access cannabis,” Andrew Little said

Key restrictions on cannabis included in the draft Bill include:

• A minimum purchase and used age of 20;
• Ban on all marketing and advertising of cannabis products;
• Requires harm minimisation messaging in the retailing of cannabis;
• Prohibits consumption in public places and limits use to private homes and specifically licence premises;
• Limits sale of cannabis to specifically licenced physical stores (not online or remote sales);
• Strict controls and regulations on the potency of cannabis;
• Establishes a state licencing regime that all stages of the growing and supply chain are licenced and controlled by the Government, and will limit the amount of cannabis that is allowed to be grown.

In order for the 2020 cannabis referendum to be effective, the public need to know what will happen afterwards. A ‘No’ vote would mean continuation of the status quo. In the event of a ‘Yes’ vote, the parties making up the Government have committed to honouring voters’ choice at the referendum.

The new website also provides information on the End of Life Choice Act, which is also the subject of a referendum at the next Election.

As the legislation has already been through the House, a 50 per cent majority voting “Yes” at the Election will mean that the Act will come into force twelve months after the result is known.

Further information on each of the referendums, including downloadable fact sheets translated into multiple languages, will be added to the website next year.

Explanatory material on both referendums, will also be included in the Electoral Commission’s enrolment update and EasyVote card mailouts to voters in the lead-up to next year’s election.

“Experience from overseas tells us that provision of factual, explanatory information is vital for the public to be informed and for an outcome that can be accepted by voters even if the result is not what they voted for,” Andrew Little says.