Posted inCampaign 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 There’s one thing almost everyone can agree on: the current law has failed and should be repealed.
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform
Cannabis Referendum’s Volatile Polls Show Every Vote Will Count – As Scientologists and Uncle SAM Exposed Behind Bob’s “Nope” Campaign
With no public education campaign and widespread confusion over what the referendum will do, it is perhaps unsurprising to see such volatility in opinion polls. What is perhaps more surprising is that the cannabis referendum result could be decided by the least powerful and most disenfranchised members of society. And what should horrify everyone is that foreign interests and religious charlatans are actively working for the Nope campaign fronted by Family First.
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog For Media & Students
Don’t panic! The only cannabis poll that counts is the Referendum itself
It's easy to get caught up in a roller coaster of elation and despair, writes NORML president Chris Fowlie, but we need to focus on the only poll that counts: the Referendum itself.
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog
Polls show how to win the cannabis referendum: social equity, social enterprise and social clubs
According to two polls this week, the cannabis referendum is in serious trouble. But they also provide clues for how to win. A model based on social equity, social enterprises and social clubs could be what it takes to win the cannabis referendum.
Medicinal cannabis bill: Do what is best for patients, MPs urged.
The Government's medicinal cannabis bill is back before parliament today - with MPs being urged to do what's best for patients, not politics. Responding to reports the National Party intends to withdraw their support for the bill, and introduce a private member's bill in the name of Shane Reti, NORML spokesperson Chris Fowlie noted there is no guarantee that will ever be heard by parliament as it may never be drawn from the…
Posted inMedicinal Use of Cannabis Research
The Complete Guide to Medicinal Cannabis for Seniors
The New Zealand Government has put forward a new law to legalise medicinal cannabis, create a medicinal cannabis access scheme, make access to CBD much easier by removing it from the list of controlled drugs, facilitate domestic production, and in the mean time allow a statutory defence for terminally ill people. These are all good steps along the right path, even if we think the bill should go further…
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis
Medicinal cannabis: good news, bad news
By Chris Fowlie. Originally published on The Daily Blog, 14 Dec 2017. Good news! The Labour-led Government will introduce legislation to "legalise medicinal cannabis", this side of Christmas. Bad news! Based on early hints about the content of the reform, patients are fearful about whether the changes will go far enough and whether they will have to continue to resort to criminal activity. During the election, Labour used an image of herbal…
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inCampaign Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform
When it comes to legalising medicinal cannabis, what would Helen Kelly do?
The Labour Government says it will introduce legislation within 100 days to legalise medicinal cannabis, but what does that actually mean, and would Helen Kelly approve? By Chris Fowlie - originally published on The Daily Blog, 9 Dec 2017 The test of any proposed new law should be, "What would Helen Kelly want?" Hint: it's not expensive pharmaceutical derivatives. In case anyone needs reminding, this is what Helen said: "Cannabis is…
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…
“It’s Jacinda over Bill” say organisers of medical cannabis rally – this Saturday 5th August in Auckland
Prospects for cannabis law reform are better under Jacinda Ardern, say organisers of a rally in support of medical cannabis. This Saturday NORML and Auckland Patients Group will rally to support safe legal access to medical cannabis - and against synthetics. National leader Bill English has again ruled out cannabis law reform, even in the face of a spate of deaths from synthetic drugs, however Jacinda Ardern, the new leader of…
Medical Cannabis Rally & March announced for Sat 22 April 2017 in response to Bill English’s oddly ignorant views
Bill English has shown how out of touch he is with the New Zealand population once again, spouting oddly ignorant views on medical cannabis. Despite a vast majority of Kiwis favouring the legalisation of medicinal cannabis, English yesterday unscientifically claimed "large-scale use of marijuana is pretty bad." In response, medicinal cannabis users and allies today are announcing they will march down Queen St later this month, supporting safe legal…
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis
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…
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis
NORML Offers Qualified Support for Binding Referendum on Medicinal Cannabis – But Would Prefer Government Acts Now
New Zealand's oldest cannabis law reform group has offered qualified support for Helen Kelly's proposal for a binding referendum on medicinal cannabis. Cannabis is useful for treating a wide variety of conditions including pain, nausea, inflammation, cancer, epilepsy and diabetes, and according to Government statistics may be used medically by as many as two hundred thousand New Zealanders. In a candid post on The Standard, former Union boss Helen Kelly…
Warning: Undefined property: WP_Error::$taxonomy in /raid/home/nznorml/norml/wp-content/themes/bloghash/inc/template-tags.php on line 640
Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases
Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Compassionate approach plants seed for medical cannabis
Originally published on The Daily Blog, 11 June 2015 Medical cannabis hit the news big time this week, with the Prime Minister John Key hoping to shut down any prospect of a parliamentary debate, called for by Labour leader Andrew Little, Green Co-Leader Metiria Turei and CTU leader (and cancer patient) Helen Kelly among others. Yet the number of people using cannabis medicinally continues to grow – medical use is now forty per cent of…
NORML, Peter Dunne and Family First all agree patients should have more access to effective medicinal cannabis. The question is How?
Instead of wasting time and money on years of pharmaceutical-level testing, NORML says we should follow the Australian approach, treat it as a herbal remedy, and immediately allow compassionate access. A TVNZ poll last weekend showed an increase in support for medicinal cannabis, and Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said if medicinal cannabis is effective, he will back it: "If those products are shown as a result of the normal testing…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Research
NZ Herald poll: majority want cannabis made legal or decriminalised
A New Zealand Herald poll confirms increasing support for cannabis law reform. The poll follows New Zealand's experiment with legally regulating Psychoactive Substances, widespread media coverage of medicinal cannabis, and increased awareness of law reform overseas including in Colorado, Washington, and Uruguay. The Herald poll shows a majority of voters want to see cannabis either made legal or decriminalised, including 45% of National Party voters. Read more about the…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform
84% of Kiwis support cannabis law reform, says Campbell Live poll
On 16 April 2014, TV3's Campbell Live asked viewers "Is it time to decriminalise marijuana for personal use?" In a staggering result, the poll showed 84 percent of you said yes it should be, while 16 percent said no. Of course, the poll follows the spotlight Campbell Live has shone on synthetic cannabis, and the fact many users we spoke to would rather smoke cannabis, but of course it…