Smoke signals: Why cannabis referendum supporters should be careful what they vote forPosted by MMP News AuthorOn October 12, 2020
For supporters of the legislation to legalise marijuana, it’s a case of be careful what you vote for. By Jane Clifton.
Anyone who approaches the referendum on the legalisation of cannabis in the binary spirit of Roundheads versus Cavaliers is in for a few surprises.
The message that seems to have got lost in the furious “evil” or “harmless fun” rhetoric of opposing sides is that what’s proposed would be the most grudging of liberalisations. The proposed law is framed in such a way that, if enacted, it could cause almost as much aggravation to those who support legalised cannabis as those who oppose it.
Look past the exuberant Rasta colours of its supporters and it’s clear the legislation is predicated on the basis that cannabis use is not good for us. For a not insignificant proportion of users, the evidence shows it’s catastrophically, life-blightingly bad.
The proposed legal framework will enable people to use the drug more freely, but its overarching…