Cannabis referendum: What those in Bay of Plenty's health sector have to sayPosted by MMP News AuthorOn October 4, 2020

The ripple effect of legalising cannabis will be felt throughout society says a social work student who will be voting ‘no’ in an upcoming referendum on the subject. Meanwhile, a Tauranga GP warns the current system isn’t working. Kiri Gillespie talks to both sides of the debate ahead of this month’s referendum.

Nikita Costello says she sees first-hand the negative impact cannabis can have on young people.

The University of Waikato social work student is on placement at Tauranga’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Her experience with young people is helping drive her vote of no in the October 17 referendum on legalising cannabis.

However, Tauranga GP Tony Farrell plans to vote yes.

Farrell has long studied and worked with people suffering harm from drugs and holds a Fellowship of Addiction Medicine qualification. In his view, the matter of cannabis was “really a social issue with health concerns”.

The argument against