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Cannabis Referendum headlines with summaries.
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Prosecution of Māori for cannabis offences falling - Police Commissioner
18 Nov 2020The Police Commissioner has rejected criticism that Māori are still being unfairly prosecuted for low level cannabis offences but is concerned they are more likely to be found in possession of the…
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Medicinal cannabis companies have mixed feelings about referendum outcome
11 Nov 2020A medicinal cannabis company is relieved the referendum went up in smoke, saying more research is needed. Other companies are disappointed but say the result won't shake their business too much.
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NZ government needs to be courageous on drug laws - criminologist
7 Nov 2020A criminologist says various states in the US have made progressive moves on drug laws and decriminalisation, and the New Zealand government needs to be courageous.
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Green Party's James Shaw on Labour deal: 'There's no kind of rule book here'
2 Nov 2020The Green Party co-leaders are standing firm on their co-operation deal with the Labour Party, although they say they've yet to work through some details. Audio
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Calls for decriminalisation as legal cannabis looks unlikely
31 Oct 2020While legalising recreational cannabis looks set to fail, doctors say the debate on decriminalisation should continue, while balancing associated health issues.
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Cannabis referendum: Greens not giving up on 'yes' vote yet
30 Oct 2020The Green Party's drug reform spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick is not yet giving up hope the vote on cannabis law reform will swing her way.
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As it happened: Referendum results and reactions
30 Oct 2020The Justice Minister says it is "highly unlikely" the preliminary referendum results will be overturned on the special votes. See how the day unfolded with RNZ's live blog.
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Cannabis referendum preliminary results: What to expect
30 Oct 2020The provisional results of the recreational cannabis referendum from ordinary ballots - which make up the majority of votes - will be announced at 2pm today. Audio
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Referendum results: Yes to euthanasia reform, no to cannabis
30 Oct 2020The euthanasia referendum has passed the public vote, with 65.2 percent voting in favour, but the cannabis question has 53.1 percent voting 'no' so far, preliminary results show.
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More than 100 doctors back legalising recreational cannabis use
15 Oct 2020More 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.
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South Auckland Māori and Pasifika oppose both referendums, poll shows
16 Oct 2020New survey shows Pasifika and Māori South Auckland voters oppose the two referendums in the general election.
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A gain for pain: legalising cannabis could help people in pain
12 Oct 2020Opinion - Though the cannabis referendum vote is about recreational use of cannabis, the outcome will affect Kiwis who live with lasting pain, writes Louise Thornley.
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Cannabis age limit won't reduce harm in young people, campaigners say
15 Oct 2020Anti-cannabis campaigners say the minimum age of 20 to use and purchase weed wouldn't stop young people from feeling the harm of legalisation.
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Cannabis referendum: Medical Association now neutral
13 Oct 2020The Medical Association has backtracked on its stance opposing the cannabis referendum, and apologised to doctors who feel they were misrepresented.
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Cannabis kōrero: The risks and rewards of legalisation
10 Oct 2020A chance to erase a significant injustice or too risky? Rangatahi are pitching their reasons for voting 'yes' or 'no' in this year's cannabis referendum. Watch the full kōrero here. Video
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Cannabis referendum result hinges on youth turnout, researcher says
11 Oct 2020Young voters will be key to deciding whether there is a 'yes' vote for the cannabis referendum, a pollster believes. Audio
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Cannabis legalisation will reduce Māori arrests, campaigners say
5 Oct 2020Cannabis campaigners say fewer Māori will get a criminal record if New Zealanders vote yes in the referendum, with research showing a reduction in arrest rates for African-Americans in US states where…
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Cannabis referendum: Legalising the 'devil's Lettuce'
2 Oct 2020Opinion - The hypothesis that cannabis is a "gateway" to harder drugs has been largely debunked, but it sure as heck is a gateway to prison, writes Michele A'Court.
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Grey Power accused of undemocratic stance on cannabis debate
9 Oct 2020Some Grey Power members are unhappy with the organisation's stance in opposing cannabis legalisation, but the its president says yes voters within the association's ranks are a tiny minority.
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Iwi support legalising cannabis to reduce Māori incarceration
1 Oct 2020Ngāti Kahungunu supports legalising cannabis and is exploring setting up its own medical marijuana project.
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Primary sector wary of health and safety if cannabis legalised
Legalising of recreational cannabis could increase health and safety risks for the primary sector, say wary employers.
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A new kind of justice? Parties' positions on law and order
5 Oct 2020Political parties increasingly agree that new approaches in the justice system - on prevention, prisons, deterrence and drugs - is needed, but exactly how it should change is up for debate.
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Party leaders among advance voters on first weekend of polling
6 Oct 2020More than 165,000 people voted over the weekend - several party leaders among them - with votes on Saturday alone totalling more than the first two days combined in 2017.
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Cannabis referendum: Medical Association admits not consulting members on issue
6 Oct 2020The Medical Association says it did not consult with members before taking its stance opposing cannabis legalisation.
