Cannabis in New Zealand: Policy and Prospects

Sally Abel

Although an illicit drug, cannabis has been tried by a significant minority of the New Zealand population and is the most commonly used of the illicit drugs. Internationally, approaches to cannabis use range from strong prohibition of all illicit drugs, to harm reduction of both licit and illicit drugs.

This paper explores the progress of New Zealand’s middle-of-the-road policy on cannabis, examining some of the influences on its direction and assessing its likely future. I begin by describing cannabis use patterns and the public health implications. To understand the international context of cannabis policy, a range of possible policy options used in the US, the Netherlands and Australia are overviewed. I then move to discuss cannabis policy in New Zealand, focusing on two key issues: the interface between cannabis policy and licit drug policies, and the cannabis reform debate.

In New Zealand there are indications of significant problems among youth and some rural Māori communities, leading to a growing recognition that dealing with cannabis requires an approach that works within wider social and economic issues.

I conclude, however, that in the absence of strong community pressure for law reform, cannabis laws are unlikely to change in the short term.