International
Former New Zealand Prime Minister supports recreational cannabis
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark called on Kiwis (an expression that internationally identifies New Zealanders) to vote in favor of legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes in the referendum that takes place next year.
Clark recently created a think tank called “The Helen Clark Foundation” and has just published a report called “The Case for YES”. The report recommends eliminating minor cannabis convictions as well as regulating a legal market where cannabis is traded responsibly.
“Isn't this [the current focus] a waste of the justice system's time and money?” said Helen Clark. “Don't the police have better things to do? Will we not be able to face the reality that 80% of kiwis will use cannabis at some point in their lives?”
Clark led the country from 1999 to 2008, being the 37th to serve as prime minister. Had she won a fourth term, Helen Clark claims she would have sought to legalize recreational cannabis use.
However, your government has not significantly advanced cannabis policy, while the current government has decided that citizens should choose whether adult cannabis use should be allowed. Citizens will be able to vote on whether or not recreational cannabis should be legalized in a referendum that will take place on the same day as the New Zealand general election (possibly a year from now, around September 2020).
New Zealand has one of the highest levels of cannabis use in the world, according to the World Drug Report. New Zealand legalized the use of medical cannabis in 2017 and the industry is starting to take shape. The Helen Clark Foundation believes that New Zealand should follow in the footsteps of Uruguay, Canada and several US states, which have adopted a more mature attitude towards cannabis use.
She claims that a “yes” vote in 2020 will advance public health goals and promote greater social equity. She adds that the ban does not work, cannot eradicate consumption, and that it is a waste of police time, which disproportionately punishes the indigenous Maori community.
The former prime minister wants to see New Zealand recognize the use of cannabis as a social and public health issue, and not as a criminal one, as the Portuguese model advocates. Clark insists that decriminalization is not enough and that New Zealand must study developments in Uruguay and North America before starting a regulated commercial industry.
In addition to these measures, Clark also advocates that the individuals and communities most affected by the ban should benefit from the changes in the law, allowing them a fair opportunity to become retail sellers and producers. Clark warned that large for-profit cannabis conglomerates should not dominate New Zealand's cultivation and trade.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]____________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you do with €3 a month? Become one of our Patrons! If you believe that independent cannabis journalism is necessary, subscribe to one of the levels of our Patreon account and you will have access to unique gifts and exclusive content. If there are many of us, we can make a difference with little!
I am one of the directors of CannaReporter, which I founded together with Laura Ramos. I am from the unique Island of Madeira, where I currently reside. While I was in Lisbon at FCUL studying Physical Engineering, I became involved in the national hemp and cannabis scene and participated in several associations, some of which I am still a member of. I follow the global industry and especially legislative advances regarding the different uses of cannabis.
I can be contacted by email at joao.costa@cannareporter.eu
North Macedonia: Government to review company licenses after seizing cannabis destined for the illicit market
“All licenses granted to companies processing cannabis for medicinal purposes will be reviewed.” The government of North Macedonia...
Portugal: New Operation “Ortiga” seizes 2 tons of cannabis and arrests two foreign citizens
The investigation that the Judiciary Police began in May and which targets medicinal cannabis companies in Portugal had today...
Thailand: New cannabis regulations aren't as bad as they seem. Here's what's really at stake in the country
The Thai government recently announced its intention to review its cannabis legislation, with the aim of limiting...
Lorraine Nolan chosen to head European Drugs Agency (EUDA)
The Executive Assembly of the European Drugs Agency (EUDA) has appointed Irishwoman Lorraine Nolan to take up the position of Director...
Cannabis Europa: “Doctors continue to leave medical school without having learned about the endocannabinoid system”
The phrase is from Niall Ivers, co-founder of Cantourage, and reveals a systemic problem in the medicinal cannabis sector in...
Hungary: New drug policy includes zero tolerance and hate campaigns
The Hungarian government, in power for 15 years, has consistently used marginalized groups as scapegoats for its problems,...
SOMAÍ and Universidade Lusófona publish peer-reviewed study to improve practices in the production of full-spectrum cannabis oils
SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, a multinational operator with EU-GMP certification, through a partnership with Universidade Lusófona, has published a study...
Poland’s telemedicine setback: A wake-up call for Europe’s cannabis sector
Poland's medical cannabis sector has seen one of the most impressive growth trajectories in Europe — but it's also...
From Renaissance to Revolution: You Can't Spell Mental Health in the 21st Century Without Psychedelics
Psychedelic Science 2025, held in Denver, Colorado, June 16-20, was a fusion of science,...
Nhung Nguyen: “My most important job is to be relaxed”
Nhung Nguyen, 32, is the creative and operational mind who made her husband Duc Anh Dang's visionary dreams come true...
