Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand|Politics

Police Minister Stuart Nash 'probably' in favour of cannabis decriminalisation

24 Jul, 2018 09:29 PM3 minutes to read
Public support for cannabis law reform has soared in the past year especially for medicinal use of cannabis, a poll commissioned by the New Zealand Drug Foundation has found.

Public support for cannabis law reform has soared in the past year especially for medicinal use of cannabis, a poll commissioned by the New Zealand Drug Foundation has found.

Lucy Bennett
By
Lucy Bennett

Political Reporter

VIEW PROFILE

Police Minister Stuart Nash says he would "probably" vote for decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use if MPs were given a conscience vote on the issue.

"It'll be a conscience vote so I'll vote the way that my conscience feels. Decriminalisation, I would probably vote for it," Nash told Newstalk ZB this morning.

"The thing with this ... as the Minister of Police, I look at this a lot. Marijuana isn't the issue we've got in our society at the moment, it's methamphetamine. That's the one we've got to go hard on."

Nash said he hadn't made up his mind but would look at all the evidence before deciding.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"If it comes down to a referendum ... if it means legislation goes into the House then MPs have a conscience vote and I'll make a decision at that point in time," he told Mike Hosking.

The Government is planning a referendum on personal use of cannabis before or at the next election. Justice Minister Andrew Little is expected to take a paper to Cabinet in the next few months.

The issue of cannabis use is back in the spotlight following a poll by the NZ Drug Foundation this week which shows support to decriminalise or legalise cannabis for the use of pain relief has increased from 78 per cent last year to 87 per cent this year.

National announced yesterday it would pull its support for a separate Government bill to allow those with terminal conditions to access medicinal marijuana and instead put up its own "more comprehensive" bill on the issue.

The select committee considering the Government's bill is due to report back on it today.

National supported it at first reading and had said its ongoing support was dependent on what changes were made in select committee.

Related articles

World

AM briefing: Trudeau names the day

20 Jun 10:19 PM
New Zealand|Politics

AUT and start-up want to make local, cheaper weed

28 Jun 03:30 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Exclusive: Cannabis reform gets big tick from public - Use it, don't sell it

23 Jul 05:00 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Let the people decide on cannabis, says Peters

23 Jul 08:37 PM

But National leader Simon Bridges said the party had now decided to pull its support for the bill and developed its own measure, which he said would set out a more comprehensive and well researched regime for the use of medicinal cannabis.

"National supports greater access to high quality medicinal cannabis products to ease people's suffering but we must have the right regulatory and legislative controls in place.
Among other things, our bill is going to make clear who can buy medicinal cannabis, who can sell it, and exactly how that will work."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

That will be put into the members' bill ballot in the name of National MP Shane Reti, a doctor who developed the bill. However, there is no guarantee it will ever be considered by Parliament because member's bills are chosen by the luck of the draw.

It will include a regulatory and legislative regime to set out who is eligible and who can dispense marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Watch: Nelson man lifted to safety in dramatic 4am rescue

18 Aug 11:31 PM
New ZealandUpdated

Parliament protest: Council staff, students to work from home, convoy to descend on capital

18 Aug 11:13 PM
New Zealand

New innovative dementia care model being used in Kāpiti at Home4All

18 Aug 11:05 PM
New Zealand|CrimeUpdated

Tax evasion: Builder used company money on Uber Eats and cash withdrawals

18 Aug 11:00 PM
New ZealandUpdated

Mid-air horror: Panic on Air NZ flight from LA as masks drop, emergency declared

18 Aug 10:55 PM

Most Popular

Mid-air horror: Panic on Air NZ flight from LA as masks drop, emergency declared
New ZealandUpdated

Mid-air horror: Panic on Air NZ flight from LA as masks drop, emergency declared

18 Aug 10:55 PM
Live: 400+ Nelson homes evacuated; Far North town isolated after slips
New Zealand

Live: 400+ Nelson homes evacuated; Far North town isolated after slips

18 Aug 10:41 PM
Murder charge after death at property in South Auckland
New Zealand|Crime

Murder charge after death at property in South Auckland

18 Aug 09:43 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP