Drug Law Reform
All drugs can cause harm. Inconsistent legislation only causes more. The Green’s Drug Law Reform policy would see one law covering all psychoactive drugs. Each drug would be treated differently depending on its level of harm. The drug problem would be tackled on two fronts: reducing drug abuse and reducing the size of the drug market. Drug treatment also features in the plan. For example, the first response to underage use of any drug should be some basic drug education and assessment, and if there is a drug problem, proper treatment. At the moment the law is silent and so some young people get a slap on the hand, others get expelled from school, while others get a criminal conviction.
If you want to be kept up to date on drug issues email Metiria's office.
Got a question about our policy?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Cannabis Law Reform FAQ
Medical Use FAQ
Cannabis Infringement Bill FAQ
What's New
Do it for Love - a youthful indiscretion made good
01 Aug 2008When I did it for the first time, I confess it wasn’t for love, it was for fun. My boyfriend and I had stayed out the whole night before and the next morning, still awake and restless we just thought, “Yeah, lets do it! Why not?” So we did and it was great!
Govt no-show at drugs policy roundtable a disgrace
20 Feb 2008"It is a disgrace that not a single Government MP has seen fit to attend a national roundtable on New Zealand drugs policy today," Green Party Associate Health Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.
Anderton refuses to control BZP, tries to blame Greens
13 Dec 2007The Green Party absolutely refutes Jim Anderton's claims that they have blocked the passage of his BZP Bill.
Clear heads needed for cannabis conversation
01 Nov 2007The Green Party looks forward to the end of anxiety-fuelled stonewalling, and the start of an objective and balanced discussion on the status of cannabis in New Zealand society, as called for by a respected authority on drug policy and research.
Drug Law Reform Links
Cannabis and Your Health: Ministry of Health Pamphlet (November 2002) (PDF, 262 kB) - Useful pamphlet covering what is cannabis, the effects of cannabis, and where to go for help.
New Scientist marijuana report - evidence on the effects of cannabis, updated with the latest research.
Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation - this recently launched (merged) US organisation seeks to broaden the debate on drugs and drug policy. Includes an extensive collection of full-text drug and drug policy-related materials, searchable by topic.
Drug Policy Forum Trust: Cannabis Policy Options - To help promote discussion about the various alternative options for cannabis control in NZ.
Green Cross - the NZ Medical Marijuana Users Group have an impressive site to assist ill New Zealanders gain knowledge regarding the medicinal use of cannabis. With information, personal stories, and research on a wide range of conditions, and guidelines on how to apply to the Government for a medical cannabis permit.
NORML NZ - National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Activist tips and the latest NZ drugs and drug law reform news with their excellent free quarterly magazine, (now with a print run of 30,000) called NORML News.
MAP NZ News - A good Web source of NZ drugs and drug law reform news, You can display the NZ news on the MAP site as headlines only or with brief descriptions and search it in a variety of ways. Through NORML NZ you can get involved in the global MAP project which seeks to gather all the published drugs and drug law reform news through a network of Newshawks and then distribute them to encourage newspaper letters page writing.
Suggest or comment on a link. Email: webmaster@greens.org.nz