NORML’s <strong>Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024</strong>

NORML’s Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024

NORML's submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024 focusses on how this Bill and the drug driving testing regime relates to cannabis and the one-in-ten adults in New Zealand who are regular consumers, as well as the large majority of adults who have tried it on occasion; the vast majority of whom are responsible, otherwise law-abiding citizens who may be entrapped by poorly targeted roadside checkpoints intended to detect recent use rather than impairment.
Testing times for drivers: National’s new drug-driving law won’t detect impaired drivers & could see innocents prosecuted

Testing times for drivers: National’s new drug-driving law won’t detect impaired drivers & could see innocents prosecuted

The Government has confirmed they will “roll out” legislation this year to enable police to randomly test the saliva of drivers using inaccurate swabs that could see thousands of people subjected to roadside blood tests and prosecuted with no evidence of impairment.
Pardon Kiwi cannabis convicts? Yes, we can.

Pardon Kiwi cannabis convicts? Yes, we can.

While Americans convicted for possessing pot will soon be pardoned, some local politicians have already stubbed out the roach here, citing the 2020 cannabis referendum result. Yet there remains a need to pardon Kiwis for something most of us no longer believe should be a crime, and there are several ways we could do it, writes CHRIS FOWLIE,
New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Use Research Survey 2019

New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Use Research Survey 2019

The first NZ medicinal cannabis patient research survey was launched on J-Day this year, drawing immediate attention with over 1300 people accessing it in the first two weeks. The survey, which is online only, is sponsored by medicinal cannabis patient advocacy organisation MCANZ, and aims to have 2000 people complete the survey questionnaire by July 31st, when participation closes.
The Complete Guide to Medicinal Cannabis for Seniors

The Complete Guide to Medicinal Cannabis for Seniors

The New Zealand Government has put forward a new law to legalise medicinal cannabis, create a medicinal cannabis access scheme, make access to CBD much easier by removing it from the list of controlled drugs, facilitate domestic production, and in the mean time allow a statutory defence for terminally ill people. These are all good steps along the right path, even if we think the bill should go further…
Poll shows growing support for cannabis law reform

Poll shows growing support for cannabis law reform

The  New Zealand Drug Foundation's 2017 poll confirms the trend for increasing support for cannabis law reform.  The poll was conducted by National Party pollsters Curia and shows even 60 per cent of that party's voters want to see cannabis decriminalised or made legal. Overall, 65 per cent want cannabis legal or decriminalised, and 81 per cent support allowing medical cannabis for patients with terminal illnesses. With an election…

Study: No Increase In Problematic Cannabis Use By Young People Following Changes In Marijuana’s Legal Status

by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director. Yet another study has once again affirmed that the regulation of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes is not associated with increases in problematic cannabis use by young people. Writing in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, federal investigators from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration evaluated marijuana use rates among young people (ages 12 to…
Dr Geoff Noller: Cannabis policy too important to be left to the politicians?

Dr Geoff Noller: Cannabis policy too important to be left to the politicians?

This article by NORML board member Dr Geoff Noller was first published on Stuff.co.nz as part of their series "What if cannabis was legal?" Cannabis policy: Too important to be left to the politicians? (Stuff Nation) Dr Geoff Noller 00:01, July 5 2017 As part of the Stuff series 'What if it was legal?', pro-cannabis reform academic and Norml board member Dr Geoff Noller gives his view on the political landscape…

Chris Fowlie: Oh, to joyfully pee in Bill English’s cup!

New Zealand's un-elected Prime Minister has taken a swipe at workers for refusing unfair and intrusive tests of their bodily fluids. We should all be lining up to joyfully pee in Bill English's cup! Not content with checking the pee of beneficiaries, the leader of the Big Business Party has now complained about local workers, blaming their refusal to submit to pee tests for the National Party policy of encouraging record immigration,…
New UMR poll shows overwhelming support for medical cannabis law change, says NORML

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…

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…