What People Are Saying

Roll over the photos to learn what New Zealand has to say about cannabis legalisation.

Politicians

"Prohibition is not good public policy. It has not been able to reduce the demand for or the supply of marijuana."

"Prohibition is not good public policy. It has not been able to reduce the demand for or the supply of marijuana."

Rt. Hon Helen Clark

"The Westie in me says I have some sympathy as far as medicinal cannabis"

"The Westie in me says I have some sympathy as far as medicinal cannabis"

Paula Bennett

"If we only decriminalise [instead of legalise], it's got to come from somewhere and the only place it can come from is criminal sources.

"If we only decriminalise [instead of legalise], it's got to come from somewhere and the only place it can come from is criminal sources.

Greg O'Connor

"Any society which tolerates alcoholic consumption at the level at which we do and the prosecutes and punishes against cannabis has an extraordinary amount of self deception about it."

"Any society which tolerates alcoholic consumption at the level at which we do and the prosecutes and punishes against cannabis has an extraordinary amount of self deception about it."

Rt. Hon. David Lange

"Does Labour believe in cannabis reform more than for just medical purposes? Yes!"

"Does Labour believe in cannabis reform more than for just medical purposes? Yes!"

Jacinda Ardern

"The police and the courts spend some $100 million of taxpayer money a year enforcing this prohibition of a drug believed by many people to be less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol. Is there really any point to this?"

"The police and the courts spend some $100 million of taxpayer money a year enforcing this prohibition of a drug believed by many people to be less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol. Is there really any point to this?"

Don Brash

"Cannabis use should be teated as a health issue, not a criminal issue. ...but it's not just a heath issue, it's a human rights issue"

"Cannabis use should be teated as a health issue, not a criminal issue. ...but it's not just a heath issue, it's a human rights issue"

Metiria Turei

"We're ready to have the conversation about decriminalisation of cannabis"

"We're ready to have the conversation about decriminalisation of cannabis"

Marama Fox

"[There] may be a case for taking more flexible approaches to offences involving possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use"

"[There] may be a case for taking more flexible approaches to offences involving possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use"

Sir Geoffrey Palmer

"I did use cannabis when I was a University student, hardly a big deal."

"I did use cannabis when I was a University student, hardly a big deal."

Peter Dunne

Legal, Industry, & Medical Experts

"[Legalising cannabis] has happened  in Colorado and several other states and we just haven't had the social problems."

"[Legalising cannabis] has happened  in Colorado and several other states and we just haven't had the social problems."

John Lord

"Police don't want to target the users of cannabis"

"Police don't want to target the users of cannabis"

Chris Cahill

"It looks like The Government are going to eventually agree with what the rest of the world is saying.  In the meantime people are suffering"

"It looks like The Government are going to eventually agree with what the rest of the world is saying.  In the meantime people are suffering"

Sue Grey

"The time for cannabis law reform is now"

"The time for cannabis law reform is now"

Ross Bell

"These patients have tried prescription medicines and haven't had success, and now use marijuana."

"These patients have tried prescription medicines and haven't had success, and now use marijuana."

Dr. Rick Acland

"Cannabis should be legally sold to adults in private social clubs"

"Cannabis should be legally sold to adults in private social clubs"

Dr. Chris Wilkins

"As a doctor I'm frustrated that there's nothing I can realistically prescribe, and I would love to have a whole range of cannabis products available."

"As a doctor I'm frustrated that there's nothing I can realistically prescribe, and I would love to have a whole range of cannabis products available."

Dr. Graham Gulbransen

People In Need

"I use cannabis daily so I can have a better quality of life... I'm taking cannabis unlawfully. I'm dying and that's not good enough to grant me an exemption, it's ludicrous."

"I use cannabis daily so I can have a better quality of life... I'm taking cannabis unlawfully. I'm dying and that's not good enough to grant me an exemption, it's ludicrous."

Helen Kelly

"Cannabis Prohibition goes against basic human rights"

"Cannabis Prohibition goes against basic human rights"

Rose Renton

"We have a God-given right to use the plants that are available,"

"We have a God-given right to use the plants that are available,"

Beverly Aldridge

 

Cultural Figures

"If you want to eliminate dangerous synthetic cannabis, why not legalise the natural stuff"

"If you want to eliminate dangerous synthetic cannabis, why not legalise the natural stuff"

Neil Finn

"You're basically making cancer patients criminals when they're just trying to cope with awful pain. So is it time that we legalise cannabis?"

"You're basically making cancer patients criminals when they're just trying to cope with awful pain. So is it time that we legalise cannabis?"

Duncan Garner

"As a daughter who has watched her own father lose his painful battle with cancer, I am empathetic to families who try to access cannabis products illegally... I'm hoping change for affected families and patients is coming."

"As a daughter who has watched her own father lose his painful battle with cancer, I am empathetic to families who try to access cannabis products illegally... I'm hoping change for affected families and patients is coming."

Michelle Dickinson

"Let's give those in pain all the tools possible to fight their illness – including marijuana."

"Let's give those in pain all the tools possible to fight their illness – including marijuana."

Nadine Chalmers-Ross

"Why would any politician say that cannabis law reform is not on the political agenda when survey after survey of Kiwis asked whether they support medicinal cannabis has found that 80-90 percent do?...  the pace of change in New Zealand is way too slow.... The harm from criminal convictions has got to stop."

"Why would any politician say that cannabis law reform is not on the political agenda when survey after survey of Kiwis asked whether they support medicinal cannabis has found that 80-90 percent do?...  the pace of change in New Zealand is way too slow.... The harm from criminal convictions has got to stop."

Alison Mau

"The world's approach to drugs simply isn't effective. The prosecute-and-punish model has had its chance and it doesn't work... it's time for significant change."

"The world's approach to drugs simply isn't effective. The prosecute-and-punish model has had its chance and it doesn't work... it's time for significant change."

Jack Tame