Legalising cannabis in New Zealand an opportunity to regulate drug authorities have 'very little control over' - Law expert

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Legalising cannabis in New Zealand an opportunity to regulate drug authorities have 'very little control over' - Law expert

15 June 2020

By 1NEWS

Yesterday, the New Zealand Drug Foundation jumped into the cannabis referendum debate with the launch of its new campaign Vote Yes - On Our Terms.

Well-known faces call on Kiwis to support cannabis law reform in a bold move from the foundation which is focused on countering the harmful effects of narcotics.

Associate Professor Khylee Quince from AUT, told TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning that reform will lead to better outcomes for health, education and justice.

"I think the messaging so far in the legislation, the draft legislation, is really strong. It says that this is not open slather, obviously even the name of the legislation, it's the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, so this is an opportunity to control a substance that at the moment we have very little control over.

"Most New Zealanders have used it, most adult New Zealanders have used it, clearly it's illegal status doesn't put people off and they're able to find it so they have access to it, so this is attempting to ring fence some of those issues."