Ten years ago this week, the New Zealand Law Commission recommended repealing the Misuse of Drugs Act, and replacing it with a new Act administered by the Ministry of Health.

This was ignored by the previous National government.

In 2017 Labour said they would, if elected, “Comprehensively respond… and replace the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.”

It still hasn’t happened.


The Law Commission’s report is here: Controlling and Regulating Drugs: A Review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (NZLC R122, 2011), released on 3 May 2011.


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