The Case for YES in the 2020 Cannabis Referendum

Unfortunately the referendum narrowly failed, but the issue remains important going forward. Cannabis use is a reality in New Zealand, and the results of our current policy approach damage our health, worsen social equity, and drive crime. The status quo is unacceptable, and this paper seeks to ask how we can do better.

The report launch was accompanied by the live event ‘A Conversation on Cannabis Law Reform’ with Helen Clark and Chlöe Swarbrick.

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Latest Media

• The Spinoff: Rebuilding from the rubble of the failed war on drugs (September, 2019).
• The Guardian: Cannabis prohibition doesn't work anywhere. It's New Zealand's turn to legalise it (September, 2019).
• Newsroom: Helen Clark backs cannabis legalisation (September, 2019).
• Patrick Gower: On Weed: Interview with Helen Clark (September, 2019).
• NZ Herald: Kathy Errington: The case for yes in the cannabis referendum (September, 2019).
• 1 News: Helen Clark Foundation recommends Kiwis vote yes on cannabis referendum (September, 2019).
• RNZ: Helen Clark Foundation backs cannabis legalisation (September, 2019).
• Newshub: Helen Clark Foundation report gives cannabis legalisation green tick (September, 2019).
• NZ Herald: Helen Clark Foundation urges voters to tick 'yes' in cannabis referendum (September, 2019).
• The Spinoff: Helen Clark: New Zealand needs legal weed (September, 2019).
• Interest.co.nz: Kathy Errington: Top Five Reasons to Vote Yes (August, 2019).
• Newshub: New Zealand cannabis market already 'enormous', although it's illegal - Helen Clark Foundation (September, 2021).
• Stuff: Helen Clark says she would have moved on cannabis in fourth term (September, 2019).
• Magic Talk: New Zealand needs to 'move into reality' on legal cannabis - Former Prime Minister Clark (September, 2019).
• Newshub: Helen Clark backs letting ex-criminals sell cannabis legally (September, 2019).
• Newshub Nation: Transcript: Simon Shepherd Interviews Helen Clark (September, 2019).
• 1 News: Ex-PM Helen Clark lashes out at current cannabis laws in NZ as a 'nonsense regime' (September, 2019).
• ABC Australia: Cannabis decriminalisation a 'social justice issue': Helen Clark (September, 2019).
• Business Insider: New Zealand could legalise recreational marijuana in 2020 — and this Aussie cannabis company wants a toke of the booming market to follow (September, 2019).