New Zealand will legalise euthanasia, but voters look set to reject recreational marijuana use.
Key points:
- New Zealand held two referendums during the general election this month
- Nearly two-thirds of voters supported legalising euthanasia
- With 500,000 ballots left to be counted, the “no” vote for recreational marijuana is ahead
New Zealanders voted on the issues in two referendums this month, while casting their ballots during a general election that returned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party to power.
With about 83 per cent of the votes counted, New Zealanders emphatically endorsed the euthanasia measure, with 65 per cent in favour and 34 per cent voting against.
The euthanasia measure, which would also allow assisted suicide, would apply to people who have terminal illnesses, are likely to die within six months, and are enduring “unbearable” suffering.
Support for euthanasia has been high for around two decades, according to Lara Greaves from the University of…