Drug Foundation finally leads – imagine what real reform could do in NZ

I have always been very critical of the Drug Foundation. In 20 years the Drug Foundation has done sweet bugger all to force NZ to debate drug policy like adults, in fact one could argue that we have in fact gone backwards on drug policy and the Drug Foundation needs to take some responsibility for that.

That however is in the past because at the moment Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation is the only responsible voice that is currently leading the debate.

The political cowardice from the Labour, National and Greens is still thriving and means only TOP has a real policy on legalising cannabis but the reality is the people have spoken numerous times on cannabis reform and they want fundamental change, not the petty changes currently being offered by Labour, National and the Greens.

The reality is TOP are most likely to just skid under 5%, so we are going to be left with National, Labour, Greens and NZ First.

I believe NZ First is actually going to be our only real chance at reform because they are the only ones who are prepared to agree to a binding referendum on legalising cannabis. The truth from overseas is that it is only when the issue is put on binding referendums that real change occurs. National, Labour and the Greens would be far happier to decriminalise and legalise for medical cannabis to avoid the hard decisions to create a legalised market and I would argue we are well beyond that and require full legalisation if we want to truly reap the rewards from taxation and eliminating prohibition policing costs.

Just imagine how much better NZ would be if we legalised cannabis.

So how do we go about legalising the cannabis market?

• We would have to have registered growers who would pay a licence to be registered growers. I see two different licenses, one would be for medicinal quality cannabis ( a more rigorous standard of quality would be required for that) and a license to sell cannabis for recreational venders. The fees from this annual licence would be collected and standards policed by a state agency. Getting caught selling cannabis without a growers licence would attract steep fines.
• We would then have medical pharmacies that would sell certified medical cannabis and licenses for recreational venders that sell cannabis for recreational users. Recreational venders would start in the form of private clubs to ease the initial rush of demand and then expand into coffee houses and specifically licensed venders. The fees from the licence would be collected and standards policed. Getting caught selling without a venders licence would again attract steep fines.
• The smoking age would be 20 to acknowledge the damage cannabis can do to developing teenage brains.
• You could not smoke in smoke free areas.
• A new impairment level would need to be agreed on so that only people impaired by cannabis would face penalties when driving or operating dangerous equipment.
• No advertising of any cannabis brands.
• A 30% clearly ring fenced portion of all taxation taken from cannabis to be spent on drug rehabilitation and education.

Imagine what would happen if we legalised cannabis and replaced prohibition with a fully taxed and regulated market.

• $400million in court, prison and police resource savings.
• $150 in taxation which could properly fund rehabilitation and education programs with still a huge amount going into general taxation.
• The lives of thousands of NZers not destroyed by prison and arrest.
• The overnight weakening of the entire organised crime market.
• A tourism boost.
• Massive employment opportunities throughout some of NZs poorest districts.
• Instead of losing your job for just testing positive for THC, you would only lose your job if you were actually impaired by that THC.
• A far more chilled out and relaxed country.

Okay the last one I’m just throwing in there.

Comrades, we can not and must not allow the real momentum we are seeing on cannabis reform and the fact so many places around the world are now ahead of us be spoiled by simply decriminalising cannabis and legalising medicinal. A regulated and taxed market would provide us with the revenue to treat those who are  hurt by this product and save precious tax dollars rather than waste them and the lives we lock up.

We can not allow political cowardice to shackle us to the failed war on drugs any longer.

The legislation overseeing drugs will be reviewed after the election, we can not trust Labour or National to do the right thing when they have been so gutless to date, whoever wins will need NZ First and they say let the people decide so it will be by putting this to a binding referendum that will see real change.

Imagine how much good this simple one thing could cause our country. It’s worth fighting for.