Green Party new cannabis policy
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Green Party new cannabis policy

The Green Party has updated it's drugs policy: they want cannabis to be made legal for adults over 18, with home growing allowed and legal markets to be investigated "to determine the best model for New Zealand". Patients and caregivers would be allowed to use and cultivate cannabis medicinally. It's a good start - certainly the best policy in parliament. The next general election must be held in 2017.…
Cannabis utensils law review – have your say to legalise pipes and bongs
Posted inAbout cannabis Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Cannabis utensils law review – have your say to legalise pipes and bongs

Submissions are open now - get yours in by Tuesday, 20 September 2016. Good news! The law banning the importation and sale of harm-reducing cannabis pipes, bongs and vaporisers may be changed.  In a new discussion document, the NZ Ministry of Health has noted that drug issues are "health matters that need to be addressed proportionately, compassionately and innovatively." It also notes the goal of the National Drug Policy is to "minimise harm…
Druglawed filmmaker Arik Reiss visits Uruguay – Part 2
Posted inAbout cannabis Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Druglawed filmmaker Arik Reiss visits Uruguay – Part 2

NORML is proud to sponsor the "Druglawed" documentary series. At the start of 2016, Druglawed director Arik Reiss traveled from New Zealand to Uruguay to obtain footage for the next installment of Druglawed, specifically to interview the former President José Mujica, who advocated for the legalisation of cannabis. In 2013 Mujica signed these reforms into law, making Uruguay the first country in the world with a legal cannabis market. The new laws…
Druglawed filmmaker Arik Reiss visits Uruguay – Part 1
Posted inLaw Reform

Druglawed filmmaker Arik Reiss visits Uruguay – Part 1

NORML is proud to sponsor the "Druglawed" documentary series. At the start of 2016, Druglawed director Arik Reiss traveled from New Zealand to Uruguay to obtain footage for the next installment of Druglawed, specifically to interview the former President José Mujica, who advocated for the legalisation of cannabis. In 2013 Mujica signed these reforms into law, making Uruguay the first country in the world with a legal cannabis market. The new laws…
Medical Cannabis “review” has failed to protect patients says NORML
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Medical Cannabis “review” has failed to protect patients says NORML

The government's so-called review of the medicinal cannabis access guidelines has failed to protect patients. "These very minor changes will only help a few people, and even these seriously ill people will need to jump through quite a few hoops to have any chance of approval," said Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML New Zealand Inc). Chris Fowlie recently returned from…
Labour will legalise medicinal cannabis “in first 100 days”, open to wider decriminalisation
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Labour will legalise medicinal cannabis “in first 100 days”, open to wider decriminalisation

The New Zealand Labour Party have confirmed they will make medicinal cannabis legal within their "first 100 days" of forming a government, and although less supportive than the Green Party of "broader" reforms they have not ruled anything out. Leader Andrew Little says he wants to see more information about the impact of reforms, so make sure you send him some! Watch video of Andrew Little on RNZ's Morning…
National Day of Action for Cannabis Law Reform
Posted inEvents Law Reform Press releases

NORML presents J Day: Nationwide cannabis protests this Saturday 7th May 2016

The 25th Annual J Day is on Saturday 7th May, nationwide. J Day is held on the first Saturday in May, in over 200 cities around the world, until the War on Drugs is over. This year’s theme is: “Stop the war, start the healing”.  “J Day is a global protest against pot prohibition and celebration of cannabis culture,” said national organiser Chris Fowlie. “This year we are marking…
It’s 420 Day: NORML presents the Medical Cannabis rally and march this Saturday 23rd April, and J Day on Saturday 7th May 2016.
Posted inEvents Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

It’s 420 Day: NORML presents the Medical Cannabis rally and march this Saturday 23rd April, and J Day on Saturday 7th May 2016.

April 20 is known as "420 Day" in the cannabis community. It is a day to celebrate the plant, including its medicinal and sacramental properties, and raise awareness of calls for law reform. All around the world, including here in New Zealand, there will be random acts of civil disobedience at 4:20pm. NORML New Zealand is using the opportunity to announce two upcoming events: the Medical Cannabis rally and…
The Medical Cannabis March – Sat 23rd April 2016 – Aotea Sq Auckland
Posted inEvents Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

The Medical Cannabis March – Sat 23rd April 2016 – Aotea Sq Auckland

Make medical cannabis legal now! Join us at this rally and protest march, calling for safe legal access to affordable, quality medicinal cannabis. A health issue should not be a crime. Make it legal now! The Medical Cannabis March Facebook page Three reasons to join us on The Medical March, Sat 23rd April: 1. New Zealanders urgently need safe legal access to medical cannabis. While the rest of the…
Posted inEvents Press releases

Druglawed 2 is in production: support it with Kickstarter

NORML New Zealand was proud to be a part of the Druglawed documentary project and excited to help support the production of Druglawed 2. Druglawed 1 featured interviews with a who's-who of NZ cannabis law reform, including NORML board members Chris Fowlie, Phil Saxby, Dakta Green and Geoff Noller. Now, with the help of The Hempstore, we are providing office space for director Arik Reiss and are assisting with…
Posted inEvents Law Reform Press releases

NORML presents J Day, nationwide events on Sat 2 May 2015

Come to J Day, an international day celebrating our cannabis culture and a protest against the failed War on Drugs. All events are free, starting at High Noon and run to 4:20pm or so. Auckland - Albert Park. Features music and speakers, on the mighty JAFA Mafia sound system, plus market stalls and information booths. Hamilton - Riff Raff Statue, Victoria St Tauranga - Yatton Park Whakatane - Historic…
Posted inEvents Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Petition to Decriminalise Medicinal Cannabis

"Decriminalise the use of medicinal cannabis in its raw form." Click here to sign this petition at Avaaz.org New Zealand patients need safe legal access to medicinal cannabis Find out more about medicinal cannabis Download or read NORML’s leaflet about Medical Cannabis [PDF] Why this is important The use of cannabis for medical purposes, is essential to many terminally ill and debilitated New Zealanders who would benefit from it.…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Press releases

Toke the Vote: NORML’s guide to NZ Political Party cannabis policies

NORML's policy, renewed at our recent national conference, is to encourage supporters to vote for parties and candidates who will work to reform our cannabis laws. We need at least 61 supportive MPs in parliament. You can help make this happen! Here is a summary of how the parties stack up against our three core policy goals. See below for more information including links to party policies and public…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Research

NZ Herald poll: majority want cannabis made legal or decriminalised

A New Zealand Herald poll confirms increasing support for cannabis law reform. The poll follows New Zealand's experiment with legally regulating Psychoactive Substances, widespread media coverage of medicinal cannabis, and increased awareness of law reform overseas including in Colorado, Washington, and Uruguay. The Herald poll shows a majority of voters want to see cannabis either made legal or decriminalised, including 45% of National Party voters. Read more about the…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform

84% of Kiwis support cannabis law reform, says Campbell Live poll

On 16 April 2014, TV3's Campbell Live asked viewers "Is it time to decriminalise marijuana for personal use?" In a staggering result, the poll showed 84 percent of you said yes it should be, while 16 percent said no. Of course, the poll follows the spotlight Campbell Live has shone on synthetic cannabis, and the fact many users we spoke to would rather smoke cannabis, but of course it…
Posted inAbout NORML Events

NORML conference, AGM and SGM

NORML's 2014 annual conference is now being organised for May in Wellington. It's an exciting time for cannabis law reform because of: International developments including legalisation in Uruguay, Colorado and Washington; High level reviews of the UN drug control treaties from this month through to 2016; New Zealand's National Drug Policy is also being reviewed, with less emphasis expected on law enforcement; New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act will…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Press releases

Complete rethink needed of all drug laws

NORML has advised the Ministry of Health a complete rethink is needed of all drug control laws and policies. In it's submission to the discussion document on the New National Drug Policy, New Zealand's longest running cannabis law reform group said the lack of any willingness to look at first principles, and the missed opportunity to place the NDP in a world context, is especially sad given that NZ…
Posted inAbout cannabis Law Reform

Obama Acknowledges Cannabis To Be Less Harmful Than Booze

Washington, DC: Consuming cannabis is less harmful to the individual than is drinking alcohol, US President Barack Obama acknowledged this week in an interview with The New Yorker. Responding to questions regarding the public's growing support in favor of legalizing the plant, the President stated: "As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice. ... I…
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

First legal pot sales in Colorado – and the sky did not fall. Here’s why it’s just a matter of time before pot becomes legal everywhere.

The benefits, and common sense, point to cannabis prohibition becoming a thing of the past. Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com/Yellowj January 2, 2014  | Tens of thousands of people throughout the nation today will buy cannabis. The difference is that in Colorado, these transactions will be legal, regulated and taxed. The product will be of known quality and potency, and the cannabis seller will not be a blackmarket dealer, but rather…
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Review of the National Drug Policy – submissions close 28 Feb 2014

The Ministry of Health has announced on its website that submissions are now open for the review of the National Drug Policy. Download NORML's submission to the New National Drug Policy here. The previous NDP expired in 2012. NORML's Chris Fowlie was invited to take part in a "innovation session" in June 2013 to come up with some new policy ideas that, unfortunately, had to remain within the current…