NZ is the highest consumer of cannabis in the world with 600,000 - 800,000 regular customers or a $1-2Billion/year industry. We could sure sort out a lot of our communities problems with the revenue from this and the savings from not enforcing a well proven, failed policy.
NZ could be dramatically improved economically and socially with one law change.
NZ would instantly save, $400 million per year. Give the police 333,684 more man hours (equates to 185 full time officers) to combat real crime , free up our courts and prisons for the real criminals. Increase Tax revenue at by least $150 million to potentially (with tourists) $500 million per year. Provide urgently needed medicine as well as business/employment opportunities.
However this is the small end of the benefits. This one law change would completely remove all barriers for farmers to grow industrial hemp with the benefits too numerous to mention here, from soil reconditioning to helping with cleaning up water quality, from CO2 absorption to bio-fuel, plastic, building, food and clothing.
As far as I can see there are only an upside there are no downsides.

Accordingly we ask that our Government;

As no evidence exists to support cannabis prohibition yet plenty exists to end it, we ask that the Government repeal cannabis prohibition and remove cannabis from the Misuse of Drugs Act, and further,

That you allow people the right to grow it for their own use,

Recognise “green fairies” as medicinal practitioners and work with them to develop safe practices,

Grant licenses to current growers .and require them to pay Taxes and G.S.T. like any other business

Good laws come from robust scientific analysis as well as moral and ethical considerations, laws governing cannabis use and impairment in driving/employment must be made based on the results of scientific evidence.

An R-18 restriction must be set to reduce availability to our vulnerable young people