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

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Drug Testing Research

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

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Posted inChris 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...
Cannabis year in review: the referendum’s long shadow

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Posted inCampaign 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.
NZ’s medicinal cannabis scheme takes effect 1 April 2020 – here’s what it means for you
Posted inMedicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

NZ’s medicinal cannabis scheme takes effect 1 April 2020 – here’s what it means for you

New Zealand's new medicinal cannabis scheme has gone live, with regulations taking effect on 1 April 2020. Any doctor can now prescribe cannabis products to any patient, and local production is allowed - but no new cannabis products are available, and producers cannot yet apply for licences. This has left many patients wondering what the scheme really means for them.
Medicinal cannabis wins and polls point to cannabis referendum’s recipe for success

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Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Medicinal cannabis wins and polls point to cannabis referendum’s recipe for success

Improvements to New Zealand’s new medicinal cannabis scheme – together with recent polling – suggest how we can win the cannabis referendum, writes Chris Fowlie. Originally published on The Daily Blog There has been much criticism of the medicinal cannabis scheme, and some of it justified. Patients can’t grow their own. So far, products have been more expensive than they could be. The dealings of middle class businessmen has…
Information about the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
Posted inMedicinal Use of Cannabis

Information about the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme

Regulations to enable a Medicinal Cannabis Scheme were passed on the 18 December 2019. A Medicinal Cannabis Agency will be operational from 1 April 2020 to administer the scheme. This page will be updated as more information comes to hand. See the Ministry of Health website for the latest information Licensing looks set to be cheaper, better, more viable Prescribing rules will change when the regulations come into effect…
New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Use Research Survey 2019
Posted inFor Media & Students Medicinal Use of Cannabis Research

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.
How Patients Could Access Medicinal Cannabis by Christmas

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

How Patients Could Access Medicinal Cannabis by Christmas

These ten fixes can all be done this year though regulations or updates to policy, with no law change needed. I want New Zealand to be a world leader in medicinal cannabis, and for patients to have legal access by Christmas this year. Let’s do it!
Pots for Patients – rally on Queen St, Auckland, Saturday 4th August
Posted inCampaign Events Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Pots for Patients – rally on Queen St, Auckland, Saturday 4th August

Rally and Art Installation calling for a Moratorium on Medicinal Cannabis Patients and their supporters until the Laws are altered. Decorate your terracotta pots commemorating patients denied safe access to affordable botanical cannabis and bring them to Aotea Square placing them on the grass amongst the others. Enjoy balm demonstrations, gentle reggae tunes and inspirational speakers. Another collaborative action between Auckland Patients Group and NORML NZ. The Medical Cannabis Art…
Cross-party support needed on medicinal cannabis – response to Govt and National Party medicinal cannabis bills
Posted inCampaign Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Cross-party support needed on medicinal cannabis – response to Govt and National Party medicinal cannabis bills

With three bills before Parliament this year, medicinal cannabis advocates are calling for cross-party support for sensible solutions. Changes to the Government's medicinal cannabis bill don't go far enough, while the National Party's proposed new bill could mean only expensive pharmaceutical-style products are available. The Green Party's bill was defeated earlier this year. “Parliament should work together and put the needs of patients first," said Rebecca Reider, who has suffered from debilitating…
Medicinal cannabis bill: Do what is best for patients, MPs urged.
Posted inCampaign Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Medicinal cannabis bill: Do what is best for patients, MPs urged.

The Government's medicinal cannabis bill is back before parliament today - with MPs being urged to do what's best for patients, not politics. Responding to reports the National Party intends to withdraw their support for the bill, and introduce a private member's bill in the name of Shane Reti, NORML spokesperson Chris Fowlie noted there is no guarantee that will ever be heard by parliament as it may never be drawn from the…
We’re all human: A cannabis patient’s report from Parliament By Rebecca Reider
Posted inCampaign Events Medicinal Use of Cannabis

We’re all human: A cannabis patient’s report from Parliament By Rebecca Reider

BY REBECCA REIDER It was one of those days for remembering why I’m alive and why I’m in this fight. Wow.  I traveled to speak at Parliament twice last month – once on behalf of NORML, and then once on behalf of myself. I did not realise beforehand how powerful these experiences would be. The first time I arrived at Parliament for the hearings, I actually started crying as…
MEDIA RELEASE: Cannabis patients testify at Parliament
Posted inCampaign For Media & Students Medicinal Use of Cannabis

MEDIA RELEASE: Cannabis patients testify at Parliament

Medicinal cannabis patients and caregivers will be descending on Parliament in large numbers on Monday 30 April to give their testimonies at the Health Select Committee. Hearings on the government’s Medicinal Cannabis Amendment Bill attracted a reported 2000 submissions, due to widespread discontent with the weakness of the proposed law. Large numbers of patients have confessed to illegal activity in their submissions, creating a tense situation when the Select…
Posted inCampaign Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML’s submission on the Govt’s medicinal cannabis bill

Hearings on the Government's medicinal cannabis law reform bill continue throughout April and May, with NORML New Zealand delivering on Wednesday 11th April an unsubmissive submission on behalf of impatient patients. NORML's evidence was presented to Parliament's Health Select Committee by Rebecca Reider - a Golden Bay patient who was raided and prosecuted by police, and who subsequently successfully imported cannabis medicines into New Zealand - and Phil Saxby,…