NORML New Zealand – Page 2 – National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand (Inc). Working to end prohibition, since 1980.

Chris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Ministry of Health reviewing the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme: here’s what works, what went wrong and how we can fix it

Last week, as New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Scheme was labelled “unworkable” and the Ministry of Health finally confirmed a review of the scheme was imminent, I did two things that illustrated what is working and what isn’t...

Chris August 24, 2022

Campaign Events Press releases

NORML presents the 30th Annual J Day on Saturday May 7, 2022.

Show your support for cannabis law reform and come to J Day, a free annual community event celebrating Aotearoa's Kiwi cannabis culture and protesting against prohibition.

norml April 4, 2022

Chris Fowlie's Blog Drug Testing Your rights

New drug-driving law ignores science, targets poor

The effects of a new drug-driving law passed by Parliament yesterday, which ignores the science around testing for impairment, will be felt mostly by the poor and already oppressed.

Chris March 25, 2022

Campaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Cannabis year in review: the referendum’s long shadow

For the second year of the zombie apocalypse, covid cast a long shadow over everything, the referendum left us in a hazy brain fog and the government wished cannabis would just go away – while the rest of the world moved on without us. Yet there is still hope.

Chris December 26, 2021

Campaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Drug Testing

Nonsense brewing over drug driving bill

A bill aiming to curb impaired driving has been derailed and will now criminalise thousands of non-impaired drivers, especially cannabis users.

Chris November 20, 2021

Campaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform

One year on from the cannabis referendum: The forgotten 48%

This weekend the Labour Party held their annual conference. It’s also one year since the announcement of the results of their cannabis referendum, in which a forgotten 48 per cent of voters supported full commercial legalisation.

Chris November 7, 2021

Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases Research

NORML’s advice to BPAC for medicinal cannabis information provided to health professionals

The Ministry of Health and BPAC (Best Practise Advisory Group) have together released a draft guide for doctors and other prescribers about medicinal cannabis, and invited feedback on the draft. This is NORML's advice.

norml October 22, 2021

Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Does medical cannabis need a supermarket-style intervention?

The Government’s medical cannabis scheme is now in full effect, but strict rules have taken away products that are used by thousands of patients, letting billionaires corner the market and no obvious path for smaller growers. The solution may lie in applying the Commerce Commission’s thinking for supermarkets to the medicinal cannabis sector, with five small changes that could make a big difference.

Chris October 4, 2021

Campaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Police persecute medicinal cannabis suppliers – this isn’t the kindness or reform we were promised!

Police have been under fire for raiding and prosecuting people using and producing medicinal cannabis products – but the blame lies squarely with politicians writing bad laws.

Chris May 14, 2021

Campaign 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…

norml May 8, 2021

Campaign Referendum

Most people agree: Repeal prohibition

Legalise, decriminalise or medicalise? There’s one thing almost everyone can agree on: the current law has failed and should be repealed.

norml May 1, 2021

Drug Testing Press releases Research

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

NORML supports the intention to make driving safer and to remove impaired drivers from our roads. But we remain concerned about the reliability, intrusiveness, accuracy, and scope of oral swabs.

norml April 26, 2021

Campaign Events Press releases

Show your support at J Day, Sat 1 May 2021

The campaign for sensible and fair cannabis laws in Aotearoa is not over. Show your support and come to J Day, on Saturday the 1st of May, a free annual community event celebrating Aotearoa's Kiwi cannabis culture and protesting against prohibition.

norml April 12, 2021

Press releases Referendum

Cannabis referendum’s razor-thin result shows mandate for change

The final results of the cannabis referendum have been released. Yes received 1,406,973 votes (48.4%) , compared to 1,474,635 votes for No (50.7%). The difference was just 67,662 votes.

norml November 7, 2020

Chris Fowlie's Blog Referendum

Cannabis referendum final result and opportunities for reform

New Zealand will today discover if the cannabis referendum passed or not. But in either case, we should chart a new course that is more broadly supported.

Chris November 6, 2020

Press releases Referendum

Cannabis referendum result announcement: Compromise and consensus are needed, says NORML

“Whichever side gets the most votes should recognise almost half the country voted the other way."

norml October 30, 2020

Chris Fowlie's Blog Referendum

Yes or No, the roadmap for cannabis reform

During the referendum campaign, the Nopers moved over to supporting decriminalisation or other iterative steps in that direction, and we must hold them to that.

Chris October 22, 2020