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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’s press releasesNORML’s press releases are collated here. Media: please contact our spokespeople (Phil Saxby and Chris Fowlie) for comments or more information.NORML’s press releases are collated here. Media: please contact our spokespeople (Phil Saxby and Chris Fowlie) for comments or more information.

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

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2020 Cannabis Referendum
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Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws
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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
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We Have the Opportunity To Take Down a Major Plank of Marijuana Prohibition October 28, 2025
No One Is Giving Your Kids Marijuana Edibles in Their Halloween Candy October 27, 2025
Older Adults Increasingly Identify as Cannabis Consumers October 24, 2025
Urgent Action Needed To End US Marijuana Arrests October 21, 2025
Supreme Court To Decide Whether Federal Gun Ban Applies to Cannabis Consumers October 20, 2025

More Headlines
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

New method could improve manufacturing of gene-therapy drugs - MIT News October 28, 2025
Humboldt County supervisors give break to Korbel cannabis farm - Times-Standard October 28, 2025
Decatur Police arrest man on drug trafficking charges after search uncovers marijuana, THC edibles - WAFF October 28, 2025
US Attorneys General Rail Against Hemp Derived THC - Hemp Gazette October 28, 2025
Cytokinetics has been on a tear as the biotech pioneers more drugs to fight heart ailments - CNBC October 28, 2025
Johns Hopkins-led study finds drugs approved for treating pain also reduce bone cancer growth - EurekAlert! October 28, 2025

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About cannabis 30
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Chris Fowlie's Blog 48
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Drug Testing 15
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Law Reform 83
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Referendum 16
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#WhatWouldHelenDo Andrew Little Arrest rates Auckland Chloe Swarbrick Chris Fowlie Christchurch conference doctors driving drug policy drug testing drug war bullshit Dunedin elections events Green Party Hastings health effects j day Labour Party law commission law reform legalisation MakeItLegal medical cannabis Ministry of Health misuse of drugs act norml Opinion Polls parliament Peter Dunne police Political Party cannabis policies prohibition harms rates of use Rebecca Reider Referendum research strategy submissions synthetic cannabinoids Toke The Vote Wellington worldwide weed

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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