NZ's cannabis referendum 2020: Some facts and recommendations about the process of cannabis legalisation

April 30, 2020

A referendum this year will ask the public whether they support legalising the use of cannabis, accompanied by regulation, education and taxation. We recommended a similar approach in 2016, after concluding that prohibition of cannabis in New Zealand has been an expensive and failed attempt to reduce harm or use. To aid public debate on this issue, we have revisited our 2016 work, updated the overseas evidence and assessed the Government's proposal.