New Zealand: Kiwis vote to legalize cannabis by 2020

A public referendum on whether to legalize cannabis for personal use will be held before the 2020 election, as part of an agreement between the Green Party and the Labor Party, according to the NZ Herald.

Green Party leader James Shaw explained that the legalization of cannabis has been part of their political platform for more than 20 years, and that the use of any substance should be treated as a public health issue, not a criminal one.

«The prohibitionist model didn’t work, and it leaves the entire market in the hands of gangs. If you had a regulated market, similar to those for alcohol and tobacco, you could control prices, advertising, points of sale, and quality, and conduct public health education campaigns.»

Currently, the therapeutic use of cannabis is permitted in New Zealand. Only cannabis extracts are available by doctor's prescription, in medicinal form, and at high prices.

This push for legalization has been supported by the country's new prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, of the Labor Party.

«During the campaign, I spoke at length about my belief that people should not end up in prison for personal cannabis use. On the other hand, I’m also concerned about young people’s access to a product that can clearly harm them.».

During a debate in August, she didn’t hesitate at all when asked whether to legalize medical cannabis for pain relief or to improve quality of life. «The answer is a resounding yes.» "she had replied".

The Labor Party will govern as part of a coalition that also includes the Greens and the New Zealand First Party. The latter, a nationalist and anti-immigration party, supports the decriminalization of cannabis.