56% of New Zealanders plan to vote «yes» to cannabis legalization in September

A majority of New Zealanders intend to vote in favor of cannabis legalization in the upcoming referendum in September.

Last May, New Zealand legislators published the the final version of the bill which would create a taxed and regulated retail cannabis market partially modeled on the Canadian legal framework for cannabis regulation. Before voting on the bill, legislators chose to first solicit public opinion on the legalization of cannabis for adults.

New Zealand's next national elections, to be held on September 19, will thus include a referendum question asking voters whether or not they support the legalization bill. The referendum is non-binding, so voters won't be able to legalize cannabis directly with their vote, but lawmakers have promised to pass the bill if it receives majority support in the referendum.

Until now, the country has remained sharply divided on the prospect of legalization. Last August, polls revealed that only 39% of Kiwis supported legal cannabis. Last February, a poll by independent firm Horizon Research found support for legalization at 54%. And a new Horizon poll conducted this month suggests that support could be even higher.

The new poll, commissioned by NZ medical cannabis company Helius Therapeutics, asked 1,593 Kiwis whether they would vote yes or no to legalization. This time, 56% of those surveyed said they would vote yes in the referendum. A demographic analysis of the results revealed that 59% of women were in favor of legalization, compared with just 52% of men.

«This result will energize both the yes and no camps,» he said. declared Helius Therapeutics managing director Paul Manning to the New Zealand Herald. «It shows how close the vote will be.» Other supporters are positive, however, the poll indicates the referendum will succeed.

«New Zealanders realize that their yes vote means better community welfare, sensible regulation and harm reduction for a substance that is abundantly available while banned,» Green Party MP and drug reform advocate Chloe Swarbrick told The Herald. «It has become clear that those arguing for continued prohibition are more focused on moralizing than problem-solving.»