Dunne’s medicinal cannabis list will not help patients, says NORML
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Dunne’s medicinal cannabis list will not help patients, says NORML

Dunne's latest announcement will make little difference to patients and is merely a smokescreen to hide the Government's lack of action, says NORML. In a press release, Peter Dunne is trumpeting the fact that he's written to medical organisations to share a list of overseas cannabis products and tell doctors to consider cannabis products with an "open mind". Ironically, the content of his message to doctors shows the ones with…
Help medicinal cannabis advocates attend the N.I. GP Conference this June
Posted inEvents Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Help medicinal cannabis advocates attend the N.I. GP Conference this June

Auckland NORML is fundraising to help medicinal cannabis advocates have a stall and professional presence at the North Island G.P. CME Conference, held in Rotorua on 10-12 June 2017.  GP's need education about medicinal cannabis, and support to guide them through the application process. Peter Dunne thinks the problem with slow and tiresome applications lies with doctors, not him. So we are taking up the challenge and bringing cannabis…
Changes to medicinal cannabis rules will make little difference, says NORML
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Changes to medicinal cannabis rules will make little difference, says NORML

The NZ Government has announced changes to the rules around medicinal cannabis - but what do they really mean? The changes announced by the Government today will do little to improve safe legal access for patients using cannabis medicinally, says cannabis advocacy group NORML. An estimated one-in-twenty New Zealanders use cannabis medicinally. Approximately 150 patients have been approved to use Satixex®, while three other patients have been approved to…
Specialists to prescribe medicinal cannabis under Govt proposal
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Specialists to prescribe medicinal cannabis under Govt proposal

In response to sustained lobbying from patients and advocates including NORML, the NZ Government is changing the rules for medicinal cannabis so doctors can prescribe it direct to patients.  It's a step forward, and what we've been saying for years: it's the regulations that prevent doctors prescribing cannabis without special Ministerial approval, and these could be changed any time without needing to change the law. The risk is that…
Legal status of Cannabidiol (CBD)
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Legal status of Cannabidiol (CBD)

UPDATED AUGUST 2017 This is a step forward - but just a small step. Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has announced Cannabidiol (CBD) will remain a controlled drug with restrictions expected to be lifted in September so that GPs and other doctors can prescribe CBD to patients without needing special approval. SUMMARY: GPs and other doctors will be able to prescribe CBD products without needing special approval; CBD products must…
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.…
Health Select Committee inquiry into Rose Renton’s medicinal cannabis petition

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Events Law Reform

Health Select Committee inquiry into Rose Renton’s medicinal cannabis petition

Rose Renton's medicinal cannabis petition has been referred to Parliament's Health Select Committee.  By Chris Fowlie (NORML NZ) and Rosie Baird (GreenCross NZ) The petition was presented by Labour MP Damien O'Connor on 12 October. The Health Select Committee will hold an inquiry into the issues raised. One of the most important things that you can do to help cannabis law reform is to make your views known to this…
Support NORML
Posted inAbout NORML Events Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML AGM Sat 19 November 2016

The Annual General Meeting of NORML New Zealand Inc (1980) will be held from 11am-1pm on Saturday 19 November 2016, at The Hempstore, 253 Karangahape Road, Auckland. [map] The agenda reflects NORML's evolving role to be an "enabler" of cannabis law reform. We don't aim to do everything ourselves. We help others do the good work they are doing and we inspire more to be active, through grants, awards, information,…
New UMR poll shows overwhelming support for medical cannabis law change, says NORML

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

New UMR poll shows overwhelming support for medical cannabis law change, says NORML

A new poll conducted for cannabis campaigners shows New Zealanders want the law changed now, says NORML.  "What may be surprising to some is that most people want herbal cannabis sold at health food stores for therapeutic purposes, alongside the Marjoram," said Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML NZ Inc). The poll was conducted by UMR for Start the Conversation from…
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…
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…
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…
Sign the Rose Renton Petition for Medicinal Cannabis
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Sign the Rose Renton Petition for Medicinal Cannabis

Kiwis urgently need safe legal access to affordable high quality medicinal cannabis. Rose Renton, mother of Alex Renton and cannabis law reform campaigner, has launched a petition that is backed by NORML and other NZ law reform groups. Download the petition here or right-click the image below, save to your computer, and print it out. Visit ItsMedicine to see where you can sign the petition in person This is…
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Patients can bring legally prescribed medicinal cannabis products into New Zealand

For over 20 years NORML has been advising patients who could afford it to get medicinal cannabis prescribed overseas and bring it back legally. The Misuse of Drugs Act allows any patient traveling to bring with them a personal supply of ANY prescribed drug. All countries have similar clauses, so that, for example, someone from NZ can travel with their painkillers or cancer meds. It also means anyone can…
NORML Offers Qualified Support for Binding Referendum on Medicinal Cannabis – But Would Prefer Government Acts Now

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML Offers Qualified Support for Binding Referendum on Medicinal Cannabis – But Would Prefer Government Acts Now

New Zealand's oldest cannabis law reform group has offered qualified support for Helen Kelly's proposal for a binding referendum on medicinal cannabis. Cannabis is useful for treating a wide variety of conditions including pain, nausea, inflammation, cancer, epilepsy and diabetes, and according to Government statistics may be used medically by as many as two hundred thousand New Zealanders. In a candid post on The Standard, former Union boss Helen Kelly…

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Posted inAbout cannabis Chris Fowlie's Blog Events

Grow pot? Please do this anonymous survey

Courts, police, prosecutors, the media and the general public often have highly unrealistic views of cannabis growers, their motives, how much they produce, and how it is sold. This often means cannabis growers are charged (and convicted) for excessive amounts and inflated values. Now you can help. If you have ever grown cannabis in New Zealand, do this anonymous survey.  http://worldwideweed.nl/ The World Wide Weed research team (a.k.a. the…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Press releases Research

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog – Even one cannabis arrest is one too many

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 23 July 2015 I’m either stupid or in denial, because apparently the police have already decriminalised weed.  That’s according to an article in the latest issue of Salient, which says “Fowlie focusses on the noise and misses the signal” in a recent post I made here on The Daily Blog. Maybe I was too busy helping victims of cannabis prohibition to have noticed that police…