Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern voted “yes” in the referendum to legalise cannabis, but may be relieved to find herself on the losing side of the issue.
In short, while Ardern might favour legalisation herself, she will have very little appetite for being the one who has to make it happen right now.
There are two reasons.
The first is Covid-19, and the second is political.
The relatively close result highlights how split society was on the issue.
Where there is a close result on such an issue, the “no change” option is the politically safer one.
Those who voted yes will be disappointed Ardern did not lend her voice to the cause when it could have made a difference, and instead waited until it was too late.