New Zealand still the world’s top consumer of cannabis
New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of using cannabis in the world, according to the United Nation’s 2012 World Drug Report. In 2010 (the most recent year for…
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…
Scientific Review: “There Is Now Clear Evidence That Cannabinoids Are Useful For The Treatment Of Various Medical Conditions”
by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director (USA) August 9, 2012 For the second time in recent months, a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal has thoroughly rebutted the present…
Five Scientific Conclusions About Cannabis That The Mainstream Media Doesn’t Want You To Know
The government and mainstream media like to push studies touting the purported dangers of marijuana, while ignoring scientific evidence that demonstrates the opposite, writes Paul Armentano. While studies touting the purported…
Medical cannabis laws associated with fewer suicides
“Policymakers weighing the pros and cons of legalization should consider… that (these) laws may lead to fewer suicides among young adult males” New Zealand has one of the highest rates…
Medical Cannabis Laws Have No Discernable Adverse Impact On Adolescents’ Pot Use
by Paul Armentano, US NORML Deputy Director The enactment of state laws allowing for the limited legal use of cannabis by qualified patients has little to no causal effect on…
NZ’s 540,000 marijuana users “too many to arrest”
A new Horizon Poll has found New Zealand has 540,000 marijuana users including over 70,000 who use it every day. NORML says this is more evidence in support of it’s…
Problems with cannabis potency claims
New Zealand Police are complaining that domestic cannabis has apparently “quadrupled in strength“. Aside from the obvious point that if cannabis is stronger consumers don’t need to smoke as much,…
Canada’s Liberal Party votes to legalise
Canada’s Liberal Party, the country’s oldest registered political party, has overwhelmingly adopted a policy of supporting the regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce, something New Zealand’s conservative government should also…
Drug driving campaign may backfire
NORML supports efforts to reduce impairment on the roads, and our own “Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use” invoke a no-driving clause. However, like with alcohol it is important to distinguish…
JAMA: Long-Term Exposure To Cannabis Smoke Is Not Associated With Adverse Effects On Pulmonary Function
by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Exposure to cannabis smoke, even over the long-term, is not associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function. That’s the conclusion of a major clinical…
Aussie Gangs and Drugs – Prohibition is Great for Business & Increasing Violence
Aussie biker gangs like the Rebels gain power through violence and trafficking in illegal drugs; that means prohibition is great for business and will only help them get a stake…
Restore Public Trust in Police – Stop Criminalising Cannabis
The New Zealand public needs to have its confidence restored in the police and the quickest way for that to happen is to stop criminalising cannabis. “The announcement this week…
Prohibition of cannabis counter-productive
The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) today released a new research report that demonstrates the clear failure of U.S. marijuana prohibition and supports calls for evidence-based models…
Govt Could Offset GST Rise by Regulating Cannabis
The Government could give Kiwis a financial break from the latest GST rise if it legalised, regulated and taxed cannabis sales. “Responsible cannabis users would be happy to pay a…