Posted inCampaign For Media & Students Law Reform

#TokeTheVote: NZ Political Party Cannabis Policies for the 2026 General Election

Cannabis is always on the agenda, and this year is no different: arrests are back up, police helicopters have resumed spraying toxic poison, medical access remains difficult and home growing outlawed, while prohibition-violence escalates, grow houses proliferate in suburban rental investments, and corruption corrodes confidence in our civic institutions. There's every reason to vote for parties and candidates who will end this prohibition madness and bring about sensible cannabis…
J Day 2026: May 2nd CHCH, Dec 5th AKLD
Posted inAbout NORML Campaign Events

J Day 2026: May 2nd CHCH, Dec 5th AKLD

NORML New Zealand Inc and friends present the 34th Annual Protest Against Prohibition and Celebration of Kiwi Cannabis Culture - J DAY! Christchurch J Day remains the FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY while Auckland J Day, for the last few years, is held on the FIRST SATURDAY IN DECEMBER.
Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws

Do you know the racist origins of New Zealand's drug laws? The 1901 Opium Prohibition Act, banned use only by Chinese people, and Aotearoa’s first alcohol law banned use only by Maori. Such misuse of drugs laws continues to this day, with the law applied unfairly, unevenly, and with no regard to actually helping those the law claims to protect. The 1972-3 Blake Palmer Committee which reviewed the previous…
NORML’s <strong>Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024</strong>
Posted inCampaign Drug Testing Law Reform

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.
Auckland mayoral contest: tough choice for progressive voters

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Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform

Auckland mayoral contest: tough choice for progressive voters

As voting packs arrive in the mail, progressive voters in Auckland now face a tough choice in the contest for Mayor: should they hold their nose and vote for socially conservative Efeso Collins, backed by Labour and the Greens, or support the ‘independent’ bid of socially liberal but right-leaning Wayne Brown?
10 years ago: the Law Commission said repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act
Posted inCampaign Press releases

10 years ago: the Law Commission said repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act

Ten years ago this week, the New Zealand Law Commission recommended repealing the Misuse of Drugs Act, and replacing it with a new Act administered by the Ministry of Health. This was ignored by the previous National government. In 2017 Labour said they would, if elected, "Comprehensively respond... and replace the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975." It still hasn't happened. The Law Commission's report is here: Controlling and Regulating…