Peter Dunne – NORML New Zealand

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…

norml August 30, 2017

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Chris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Cannabidiol to remain a controlled drug: here’s what is changing

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has announced Cannabidiol (CBD) will remain a controlled drug with restrictions expected to be lifted in September so that GPs and other doctors can prescribe CBD to patients without needing special approval. Dunne’s changes will help some patients – eventually – but a lot more could be done, writes Chris Fowlie. SEE NORML'S PAGE ON CANNABIDIOL: norml.org.nz/2017/legal-status-of-cannabidiol-cbd/ CBD will remain a controlled drug, just easier to prescribe. Doctors will be able to prescribe approved…

Chris August 9, 2017

Events Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

“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…

norml August 3, 2017

Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Dunne’s medicinal cannabis list will not help patients, says NORML

Dunne's latest announcement will make little difference to patients and is merely a smokescreen to hide the Government's lack of action, says NORML. In a press release, Peter Dunne is trumpeting the fact that he's written to medical organisations to share a list of overseas cannabis products and tell doctors to consider cannabis products with an "open mind". Ironically, the content of his message to doctors shows the ones with…

norml February 22, 2017

Events Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Help medicinal cannabis advocates attend the N.I. GP Conference this June

Auckland NORML is fundraising to help medicinal cannabis advocates have a stall and professional presence at the North Island G.P. CME Conference, held in Rotorua on 10-12 June 2017. GP's need education about medicinal cannabis, and support to guide them through the application process. Peter Dunne thinks the problem with slow and tiresome applications lies with doctors, not him. So we are taking up the challenge and bringing cannabis…

norml February 9, 2017

For Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Changes to medicinal cannabis rules will make little difference, says NORML

The NZ Government has announced changes to the rules around medicinal cannabis - but what do they really mean? The changes announced by the Government today will do little to improve safe legal access for patients using cannabis medicinally, says cannabis advocacy group NORML. An estimated one-in-twenty New Zealanders use cannabis medicinally. Approximately 150 patients have been approved to use Satixex®, while three other patients have been approved to…

norml February 8, 2017

Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Specialists to prescribe medicinal cannabis under Govt proposal

In response to sustained lobbying from patients and advocates including NORML, the NZ Government is changing the rules for medicinal cannabis so doctors can prescribe it direct to patients. It's a step forward, and what we've been saying for years: it's the regulations that prevent doctors prescribing cannabis without special Ministerial approval, and these could be changed any time without needing to change the law. The risk is that…

Chris February 7, 2017

For Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Medical Cannabis “review” has failed to protect patients says NORML

The government's so-called review of the medicinal cannabis access guidelines has failed to protect patients. "These very minor changes will only help a few people, and even these seriously ill people will need to jump through quite a few hoops to have any chance of approval," said Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML New Zealand Inc). Chris Fowlie recently returned from…

norml May 20, 2016

For Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Labour will legalise medicinal cannabis “in first 100 days”, open to wider decriminalisation

The New Zealand Labour Party have confirmed they will make medicinal cannabis legal within their "first 100 days" of forming a government, and although less supportive than the Green Party of "broader" reforms they have not ruled anything out. Leader Andrew Little says he wants to see more information about the impact of reforms, so make sure you send him some! Watch video of Andrew Little on RNZ's Morning…

norml May 18, 2016

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…

Chris January 15, 2016

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…

Chris June 11, 2015

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Let’s have an honest discussion on medicinal cannabis

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 16 April 2015 Safer than aspirin[1], or a sneaky ruse to legalise the devil’s weed? Patients and health professionals say cannabis may be a “wonder drug[2]” that relieves conditions from back pain and nausea to fibromyalgia, cancer[3] and epilepsy. But not according to our Ministry of Health. The only form of medicinal cannabis they permit is Sativex[4], an extract made in the UK…

Chris April 16, 2015

About cannabis Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

Regulation will reduce teen cannabis use, says NORML

Current drug policy is resulting in widespread teenage cannabis use while a regulated market would make cannabis use adults-only in licensed premises. Despite strict cannabis laws, New Zealand has the highest rate of teen cannabis use in the world. Meanwhile, the Netherlands have the most relaxed cannabis laws for adults in the world but has the lowest rate of teen cannabis use. “New Zealand needs to take a leaf…

norml September 3, 2012