Some of New Zealand’s top medical experts have come out in favour of a “yes” vote in the upcoming cannabis referendum.
An editorial published in the New Zealand Medical Journal called the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill referendum a once-in-a-generation “opportunity to place evidence-informed controls around a substance that is widely used and unregulated”.
“A yes vote is not a vote in support of cannabis — it is a vote in support of placing public health controls around a substance that is currently left to the black market to manage,” the authors – specialists in addiction treatment, public health, Māori health equity and epidemiology – said.
“If the referendum is successful, it will result in public health legislation with world-leading goals and aspirations that could serve as a model for other countries.”
The strong vote of support comes a week after early voting opened for the referendum, and the latest poll showed a slight lead in support.
A Horizon Research poll found…
