Greens Renew Call for Cannabis Regulation

Five years after New Zealand’s closely contested cannabis referendum, the Green Party is reopening the debate. With enforcement continuing and harm reduction unresolved, the call for evidence-based cannabis regulation is returning to the political agenda ahead of Election 2026.

Five Years After the Cannabis Referendum

The Green Party has renewed its call for evidence-based cannabis regulation, on the fifth anniversary of a referendum in which the public voted only narrowly against legalisation.

“Five years ago, 1.4 million New Zealanders voted on each side of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Referendum. Today, the Greens continue to work for sensible, evidence-based regulation to reduce harm,” says Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick.

“Those who campaigned against legal regulation of cannabis could not defend the harm of criminal prohibition – the best they could muster was critique of legalisation. So today we’re launching an online platform for New Zealanders to tell us what they think sensible regulation could look like.

“The referendum result made it clear that the status quo was untenable, and that an ongoing, mature conversation about drug law reform was necessary.

The Cost of Ongoing Cannabis Prohibition

“In the last five years, the resources and time of our Courts and Police have continued to be wasted enforcing cannabis prohibition. In the past year alone, 26 people have been imprisoned for cannabis offences as their most serious charge, and three imprisoned just for cannabis use.

Regulation vs Prohibition: The Policy Divide

“After 50 years of the war on drugs, it’s clear the drugs are winning. The only way to address these issues is through sensible regulation, which means minimising the profit motive and cutting out the black market.

“This isn’t a question of whether you use cannabis or even like cannabis. This is about acknowledging the reality that cannabis exists and that our laws can either increase or decrease harm. Right now, we have the worst of all worlds.

What Sensible Regulation Could Look Like

“We believe New Zealanders deserve better, and we look forward to hearing their ideas on what sensible regulation should look like,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

With public opinion once split almost evenly, cannabis policy remains one of New Zealand’s most unresolved debates. As Election 2026 approaches, the question is no longer whether the conversation continues — but whether Parliament is prepared to lead it.