Press Releases

Viewing by tag: misuse of drugs act

  • Cannabis utensils law review – have your say to legalise pipes and bongs

    posted on the August 3rd, 2016 by norml

    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 […]

  • Patients can bring legally prescribed medicinal cannabis products into New Zealand

    posted on the March 11th, 2016 by Chris

    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 […]

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

    posted on the January 15th, 2016 by Chris

    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 […]

  • Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: One of many punished and not supported

    posted on the June 25th, 2015 by Chris

    Originally published on The Daily Blog, 25 June 2015 This Friday 26 June is global “Support, don’t punish” day, which aims to focus attention on the harmful aspects of criminal drug laws while calling for more support for those drug users who need it.  In the Auckland District Court this week I saw a cannabis activist persecuted by […]

  • Review of the National Drug Policy – submissions close 28 Feb 2014

    posted on the December 17th, 2013 by norml

    The Ministry of Health has announced on its website that submissions are now open for the review of the National Drug Policy. Download NORML’s submission to the New National Drug Policy here. The previous NDP expired in 2012. NORML’s Chris Fowlie was invited to take part in a “innovation session” in June 2013 to come […]

  • Medical Council wrong, says NORML

    posted on the December 29th, 2011 by Chris

    Contrary to what the Medical Council says, cannabis is not illegal if used with a license or prescription, says cannabis law reform group NORML. “This is the same as with opiates such as morphine which are commonly prescribed,” said spokesperson Chris Fowlie. “Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act is for issuing licenses. One […]

  • Ban on Low Risk Drugs should be Temporary, says NORML

    posted on the August 2nd, 2011 by Phil

    Drug law reform organisation NORML says the government’s temporary ban on synthetic cannabis provides time for proper consideration of the Law Commission’s report issued in May. “Low risk drugs like cannabis and party pills should be regulated, not banned”, says Acting President Phil Saxby. “The huge popularity of party pills before they were banned is […]