Legalize Cannabis in New Zealand
The issue
We appeal to the NZ Government to legalize Cannabis for a better New Zealand and a better WORLD!
Moderate use does not pose a significant risk to adults. On the contrary, new studies show the potential effectiveness of this natural herb in treating many diseases including cancer and epilepsy, amongst many other medical benefits, as well as the therapeutically-relaxing and spiritually-enlightening properties sought after by millions of recreational users.
Instead of wasting time and money on criminalising a valuable asset and cutting down plantations, why can't our Government save itself the trouble and legalize a culturally-accepted substance that can help in the socio-economic development of the country?
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. Over 125 million people partake of it in some form or another every year. New Zealanders have consumed and celebrated Cannabis for centuries.
However, implementation of stringent laws have made the possession, consumption, production, sale and transportation of Cannabis illegal. It's about time the law caught up with common sense. Here are just some of the reasons why Cannabis should now be LEGAL in New Zealand:
1. It will help stop illegal trade and associate crime
Legalization would replace black market and often gang-related production and distribution with an ‘above board’ industry. The trade would be populated by farmers, merchants and retail personnel, not by criminals or dealers.
2. Cannabis addiction is rare, overdose non-existent
An epidemiological study showed that only 9 percent of those who use Cannabis end up being clinically dependent on it. The 'comparable rates' for tobacco and alcohol stood at 32 percent and 15 percent respectively. Cannabis has limited withdrawal symptoms and its use can't be fatal. Not only is it virtually impossible to overdose on Cannabis, users face nominal withdrawal symptoms after consuming it.
3. Taxing Cannabis will increase Government revenue
By legalizing and taxing Cannabis, the government will stand to earn huge amounts of revenue that would otherwise go to dealers. In an open letter to a former US President, around 500 economists led by Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, called for Cannabis to be "legal but taxed and regulated like other goods".
4. It will create job opportunities
Legalization of Cannabis for recreational and medical purposes in an increasing part of the US has created tens of thousands of new jobs in those areas. There are a plethora of jobs that could be created by the Cannabis & Hemp industry including retail & pharmaceutical stores, building supplies and paper & rope manufacturers, which would help reduce New Zealand's unemployment rate.
5. Cannabis has Medical benefits
Studies have shown that the THC, CBD and other ingredients in Cannabis have many medical benefits. It treats glaucoma, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, shows potential in stopping cancer in its tracks, reduces anxiety, slows the progress of Alzheimer's & Crohn’s disease, improves metabolism and spurs creativity in our brain.
6. It is a natural alternative to Synthetics
The first generation of legal highs were pretty similar at a molecular level to THC. Unfortunately, Government legislation banning each successive generation of products has forced laboratories to mutate the genetics of synthetics until we have arrived at an unhealthy, highly-addictive formula which caused more harm than good.
7. Legalization will ensure that good quality Cannabis is sold to consumers
Cannabis remains easily available in New Zealand. It is a poor law that clubs Cannabis together with destructive drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack and methamphetamine and effectively ‘demonises’ them all. The punishment for violating the outdated laws of fines, a criminal record and jail time encourage the black market trade to shift from peddling Cannabis to harder drugs. This is because whilst the risk is greater, profits from the hard-line killer drugs are ten times higher. Legalization will improve the quality of Cannabis sold to users by allowing the Government to regulate the production and sale of the herb.
8. Cannabis has great potential as a cash crop, including the manufacture of hemp as a more effective, ecologically-sustainable alternative to paper, rope and even building materials amongst many other as-yet undiscovered benefits which could be discovered in derivatives such as oil.
9. Prohibition has failed to control the use and domestic production of Cannabis
These days, it is pretty easy to buy Cannabis in New Zealand and its consumption is widespread amongst adults and youth. So it is fair to say that prohibition has failed to curb the 'problem'. All it does do is criminalise otherwise law-abiding citizens and drive it underground.
10. Cannabis is far less harmful than Alcohol and Tobacco
Cannabis consumption is no more a socially-deviant behaviour any more than drinking alcohol is, legal considerations aside. In fact, legalizing it is considered as an 'enlightened view'. It is medically proven that Cannabis is less harmful than Alcohol and Tobacco. And unlike alcoholics, stoners don't indulge in dangerous driving or violent fights. They tend to be calm and pleasant under the influence of Cannabis.
Given that studies across the world now show that moderate consumption of Cannabis is far less harmful than Tobacco or Alcohol, it makes little sense to uphold the ban on its medicinal and recreational use.
The most dangerous thing about Cannabis is getting caught with it!
We urge the Government to hold a national referendum and recognise the sea-change in public opinion by amending the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to de-criminalise Cannabis as a Class B and Class C drug.
Thank you for reading. Support the cause today - please sign the petition and see the links below for more information:
https://home.greens.org.nz/policy/summary/drugs
The issue
We appeal to the NZ Government to legalize Cannabis for a better New Zealand and a better WORLD!
Moderate use does not pose a significant risk to adults. On the contrary, new studies show the potential effectiveness of this natural herb in treating many diseases including cancer and epilepsy, amongst many other medical benefits, as well as the therapeutically-relaxing and spiritually-enlightening properties sought after by millions of recreational users.
Instead of wasting time and money on criminalising a valuable asset and cutting down plantations, why can't our Government save itself the trouble and legalize a culturally-accepted substance that can help in the socio-economic development of the country?
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. Over 125 million people partake of it in some form or another every year. New Zealanders have consumed and celebrated Cannabis for centuries.
However, implementation of stringent laws have made the possession, consumption, production, sale and transportation of Cannabis illegal. It's about time the law caught up with common sense. Here are just some of the reasons why Cannabis should now be LEGAL in New Zealand:
1. It will help stop illegal trade and associate crime
Legalization would replace black market and often gang-related production and distribution with an ‘above board’ industry. The trade would be populated by farmers, merchants and retail personnel, not by criminals or dealers.
2. Cannabis addiction is rare, overdose non-existent
An epidemiological study showed that only 9 percent of those who use Cannabis end up being clinically dependent on it. The 'comparable rates' for tobacco and alcohol stood at 32 percent and 15 percent respectively. Cannabis has limited withdrawal symptoms and its use can't be fatal. Not only is it virtually impossible to overdose on Cannabis, users face nominal withdrawal symptoms after consuming it.
3. Taxing Cannabis will increase Government revenue
By legalizing and taxing Cannabis, the government will stand to earn huge amounts of revenue that would otherwise go to dealers. In an open letter to a former US President, around 500 economists led by Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, called for Cannabis to be "legal but taxed and regulated like other goods".
4. It will create job opportunities
Legalization of Cannabis for recreational and medical purposes in an increasing part of the US has created tens of thousands of new jobs in those areas. There are a plethora of jobs that could be created by the Cannabis & Hemp industry including retail & pharmaceutical stores, building supplies and paper & rope manufacturers, which would help reduce New Zealand's unemployment rate.
5. Cannabis has Medical benefits
Studies have shown that the THC, CBD and other ingredients in Cannabis have many medical benefits. It treats glaucoma, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, shows potential in stopping cancer in its tracks, reduces anxiety, slows the progress of Alzheimer's & Crohn’s disease, improves metabolism and spurs creativity in our brain.
6. It is a natural alternative to Synthetics
The first generation of legal highs were pretty similar at a molecular level to THC. Unfortunately, Government legislation banning each successive generation of products has forced laboratories to mutate the genetics of synthetics until we have arrived at an unhealthy, highly-addictive formula which caused more harm than good.
7. Legalization will ensure that good quality Cannabis is sold to consumers
Cannabis remains easily available in New Zealand. It is a poor law that clubs Cannabis together with destructive drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack and methamphetamine and effectively ‘demonises’ them all. The punishment for violating the outdated laws of fines, a criminal record and jail time encourage the black market trade to shift from peddling Cannabis to harder drugs. This is because whilst the risk is greater, profits from the hard-line killer drugs are ten times higher. Legalization will improve the quality of Cannabis sold to users by allowing the Government to regulate the production and sale of the herb.
8. Cannabis has great potential as a cash crop, including the manufacture of hemp as a more effective, ecologically-sustainable alternative to paper, rope and even building materials amongst many other as-yet undiscovered benefits which could be discovered in derivatives such as oil.
9. Prohibition has failed to control the use and domestic production of Cannabis
These days, it is pretty easy to buy Cannabis in New Zealand and its consumption is widespread amongst adults and youth. So it is fair to say that prohibition has failed to curb the 'problem'. All it does do is criminalise otherwise law-abiding citizens and drive it underground.
10. Cannabis is far less harmful than Alcohol and Tobacco
Cannabis consumption is no more a socially-deviant behaviour any more than drinking alcohol is, legal considerations aside. In fact, legalizing it is considered as an 'enlightened view'. It is medically proven that Cannabis is less harmful than Alcohol and Tobacco. And unlike alcoholics, stoners don't indulge in dangerous driving or violent fights. They tend to be calm and pleasant under the influence of Cannabis.
Given that studies across the world now show that moderate consumption of Cannabis is far less harmful than Tobacco or Alcohol, it makes little sense to uphold the ban on its medicinal and recreational use.
The most dangerous thing about Cannabis is getting caught with it!
We urge the Government to hold a national referendum and recognise the sea-change in public opinion by amending the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to de-criminalise Cannabis as a Class B and Class C drug.
Thank you for reading. Support the cause today - please sign the petition and see the links below for more information:
https://home.greens.org.nz/policy/summary/drugs
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Petition created on 13 October 2015