OPINION: About three weeks ago, a slim majority of New Zealanders voted against a proposed law to legalise and control cannabis. Prohibitionists have taken this to mean all potential for drug law reform must be vacuum-sealed and swept under the carpet. Others have lamented that this very niche, specific draft law was simply not the perfect version they wanted. More still are wondering where on earth this so-close, “non-binding” referendum result leaves us in an area of law so scary to so many politicians. As the Green Party’s freshly reappointed drug law reform spokesperson, and someone who dedicated the past few years of their life to negotiating this law and then campaigning for it, here’s my take: we lost the battle, but we will win the war.

Source: Stuff November 26, 2020 15:56 UTC