Should penalties for minor drug offences be lowered?

Photo / Michael Cunningham

A wide-ranging review of New Zealand drug laws recommends taking steps toward legalising cannabis for medicinal use, cutting criminal charges against low level drug offenders and introducing new regulations stopping production of party pills.

The Law Commission review released recently proposes a complete overhaul of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 governing prosecution of drug offences in New Zealand.

It advocates Government-backed clinical trials testing the medicinal benefits of cannabis "as soon as practicable".

Should penalties for minor drug offences be lowered? Here is the latest selection of Your Views: