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National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand (Inc). Working to end prohibition, since 1980.

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  • Contesting a cannabis chargeHelp yourself – not the law The most important thing is to know your rights and understand the law. If you’ve made the choice to use cannabis, you should understand how the law works so you can minimise any negative consequences of arrest, prosecution and/or incarceration. First, take a few minutes right now to read the Your Rights page in the Main Menu on the left. Even if you’ve read it before, or think you know your rights already, do it again. Go on, do it now. One or two can pretend to be cops and the rest can be some mates they want to hassle. Practice declining consent for a search by saying “No I do not consent to a search, what is your lawful authority?” (remember, silence is taken to mean consent, so you must voice your refusal to consent to the search, even if they have a warrant or invoke the MDA s18). Practice remembering all the details (everything that was done and said) which will really help if it happens for real and you need to go to court. Practice keeping your mouth shut and not making statements. This will help make it second nature if…Help yourself – not the law The most important thing is to know your rights and understand the law. If you’ve made the choice to use cannabis, you should understand how the law works so you can minimise any negative consequences of arrest, prosecution and/or incarceration. First, take a few minutes right now to read the Your Rights page in the Main Menu on the left. Even if you’ve read it before, or think you know your rights already, do it again. Go on, do it now. One or two can pretend to be cops and the rest can be some mates they want to hassle. Practice declining consent for a search by saying “No I do not consent to a search, what is your lawful authority?” (remember, silence is taken to mean consent, so you must voice your refusal to consent to the search, even if they have a warrant or invoke the MDA s18). Practice remembering all the details (everything that was done and said) which will really help if it happens for real and you need to go to court. Practice keeping your mouth shut and not making statements. This will help make it second nature if…
  • Drug TestingSTUDY FINDS MARIJUANA USE LOWERS ACCIDENT RISK By Chris Fowlie (Norml News Autumn 2009) Testing urine for cannabis does not improve on-the-job safety. It not only fails to measure impairment, a new study confirms cannabis users have an even lower accident risk than straight people. The entire reasoning for drug testing workers and drivers is based on the assumption that any use will cause impairment and therefore users would endanger themselves and others around them. Now a new study has undermined the rationale for drug testing workers, by showing that the use of cannabis actually reduced the risk of accidents. Investigators at the Luasanne University Hospital in Switzerland assessed the association between the use of cannabis and/or alcohol and the risk of injury among 486 patients aged 16 and older treated for various injuries. They found alcohol use in the six hours prior to injury was associated with a three-fold elevated relative risk compared with no alcohol use, but cannabis use was inversely related to risk of injury, with only 0.33 the risk compared to no use. Cannabis users had less injuries and were actually safer than alcohol drinkers or even straight people. Despite the study’s relatively small sample size,…STUDY FINDS MARIJUANA USE LOWERS ACCIDENT RISK By Chris Fowlie (Norml News Autumn 2009) Testing urine for cannabis does not improve on-the-job safety. It not only fails to measure impairment, a new study confirms cannabis users have an even lower accident risk than straight people. The entire reasoning for drug testing workers and drivers is based on the assumption that any use will cause impairment and therefore users would endanger themselves and others around them. Now a new study has undermined the rationale for drug testing workers, by showing that the use of cannabis actually reduced the risk of accidents. Investigators at the Luasanne University Hospital in Switzerland assessed the association between the use of cannabis and/or alcohol and the risk of injury among 486 patients aged 16 and older treated for various injuries. They found alcohol use in the six hours prior to injury was associated with a three-fold elevated relative risk compared with no alcohol use, but cannabis use was inversely related to risk of injury, with only 0.33 the risk compared to no use. Cannabis users had less injuries and were actually safer than alcohol drinkers or even straight people. Despite the study’s relatively small sample size,…
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NORML New Zealand has a Youtube channel with videos from us and some selections from our friends and associates. Check it out and keep up to date with cannabis law reform in New Zealand.

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Want more? See NORML New Zealand’s Youtube Playlist page for more NZ-related cannabis law reform videos.

National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc (1980). We work to end cannabis prohibition.

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  • FBI: Marijuana Possession Arrests Comprised Over 20% of All Drug-Related Arrests in 2024 October 15, 2025
  • Analysis: Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization Associated With Fewer Opioid Overdose Deaths October 14, 2025
  • Michigan: Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Tax Hike Despite Significant Pushback from Advocates October 3, 2025
  • Clinical Trial: Cannabis Extract Demonstrates Superiority Over Opioids in Patients With Chronic Back Pain October 3, 2025
  • 30 Million Marijuana Arrests and Counting – Enough is Enough! September 30, 2025
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  • New Zealand: Oped: Canada's Legalisation Experience October 15, 2020
  • New Zealand: Ardern Admits To Inhaling, Kiwis Shrug October 2, 2020
  • New Zealand: Oped: Opinion As Well As Science Informs Policy Advice July 25, 2020
  • New Zealand: Medical Cannabis Change Welcomed By Northland February 16, 2017
  • New Zealand: Aging Baby Boomers Increasingly Embrace Marijuana December 27, 2016
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  • Pueblo man arrested for allegedly possessing 55 grams of fentanyl, other drugs - Colorado Springs Gazette October 16, 2025
  • Young man pleads guilty to supplying drugs in Oxford on first day of trial - Oxford Mail October 16, 2025
  • Police say children were involved in alleged drug dealing in Ōpōtiki - 1News October 16, 2025
  • Medical cannabis supporters voiced opposition to proposed regulations at public hearing Wednesday - KMTV 3 News Now October 16, 2025
  • Sky News films drones dropping drugs into prison - Sky News October 16, 2025
  • Pa. bill to expand hospital access to medical cannabis - fox43.com October 16, 2025
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  • Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws
  • Sign the Petition supporting Gandalf and other Green Fairies
  • J Day 2025: 3rd May in CHCH, 6th Dec in AKLD
  • NZ’s Drug Driving law passes, with only Green and Te Pati Maori MPs opposed
  • Roll up for Auckland J Day – Sat 7th December in Albert Park
  • NORML’s Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024
  • Balance the books with $2.8b tax from legal cannabis
  • Testing times for drivers: National’s new drug-driving law won’t detect impaired drivers & could see innocents prosecuted
  • J Day 2024 – North and South Island Editions
  • Predictions for 2024
About NORML New Zealand Inc.

The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML New Zealand Inc.) works to end cannabis prohibition in New Zealand, and bring about progressive drug policies.

Our mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalise the responsible use of cannabis by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality cannabis that is safe, convenient and affordable.

NORML’s aims are to:

  • reform our marijuana laws
  • provide information about cannabis
  • engage in political action appropriate to our aims
  • inform people of their rights
  • give advice and support to the victims of prohibition

NORML New Zealand (Inc) is a non-profit membership-based incorporated society that was formed in New Zealand in 1979 (Incorporated 1980).

PROMOTER STATEMENT: Authorised by NORML New Zealand Inc, 253 Karangahape Road Auckland.

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