More than 100 doctors have come forward to put their names behind cannabis legalisation, in response to the New Zealand Medical Association’s backtracking from opposing the bill to neutrality.
They say they fear the Medical Association’s decision to oppose the cannabis referendum and legalisation, without having consulted its members, could lead to the referendum failing.
The NZMA only changed its stance to a neutral one after several doctors came forward to RNZ complaining about its stance, and NZMA chair Dr Kate Baddock admitted that it did not consider the proposed legislation before opposing the referendum.
Dr Emma Clare, who has worked as a youth health GP, said many doctors thought the referendum would pass, and so did not speak up about the NZMA’s anti stance.
That was until polling showed the referendum was unlikely to pass.
“I just feel a bit helpless, really,” Dr Clare said. “I thought it was going to pass, I really did, and then the last few polls have been really…