Our cousins across the ditch are expected to hold a public referendum on the legalisation of cannabis before 2020.
The news comes with the recent election of Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, who will control parliament with a coalition made up of Labour, the NZ Greens and NZ First (aka NZ’s take on One Nation).
The referendum was promised as part of Labours agreement with the Greens, who have been pushing for cannabis for the past two decades.
Jacinda Ardern told reporters Friday that she will work with her Cabinet and take advice before deciding on any referendum date, reports CNBC.
“During the campaign I’ve always been very vocal about the fact that I do not believe people should be imprisoned for the personal use of cannabis. On the flip-side, I also have concerns around young people accessing a product which can clearly do harm and damage to them,” she said.
A Newshub poll from April this year found 97% of respondents backed the legalisation of cannabis.
