Green Party welcome festival drug checking research to prove harm reduction approach

“In an ideal world, communities would be completely free of drug use, where we all thrive and live healthy lives. Yet forty years of punitive legal sanctions have only driven problems further underground”, Green Party Drug Reform spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick said today.

“That’s why we welcome this independent research project, to indisputably test and report whether drug checking services will reduce harm and save lives here in New Zealand.

“Following international trends, this debut local, academic research will no doubt strengthen the case for legal drug checking here in New Zealand. It has the backing of a strong majority of New Zealanders, and now we’re following rigorous testing before taking important next steps.

“The Green Party have been pivotal in ensuring a harm reduction approach to drug use as part of this Government – a commitment contained in our Confidence and Supply agreement – and we are glad to be continuing it with today’s announcement.”

The Green Party recently tabled a 6,000 signature petition to Parliament to support drug checking, and has campaigned and worked across Parliament on this issue since the 2017 election.

Latest Drug Law Reform Announcements

Story

Greens cheers community win to reduce alcohol harm

The Green Party is today celebrating the passage of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Bill.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes

The Green Party are welcoming the Government’s announcement of regulations to curb youth vaping.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome Government coming to party on reducing alcohol harm

The Green Party are celebrating today’s introduction of the Government’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill, effec...
Read More

Story

No more Biden time on cannabis decriminalisation

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow President Joe Biden’s lead and decriminalise cannabis. 
Read More

Story

Alcohol action is suicide prevention - MPs must act

Evidence published today showing that acute alcohol use is a factor in more than a quarter of suicides in New Zealand is a shocking wakeup call and...
Read More

Story

Taxing drug revenue would mean drug reform

If ACT is serious about taxing illicit drug revenue then let’s talk about drug reform, the Green Party says.
Read More