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Anti-Prohibition WEB VERSION WE NEED YOU! JOIN NORML AND DRUG LAW DEBATE HELP END CANNABIS PROHIBITION! "We recommend continuance of a OUR GOALS ARE TO REFORM NEW ZEALAND’S Almost half of all prohibition policy so MARIJUANA LAWS, TO CREATE A LEGALLY REGULATED, long as this can be TAXED AND CONTROLLED CANNABIS MARKET. WE WILL: New Zealanders shown to be largely • Engage in political action appropriate to our aims effective." • Provide neutral, unbiased information about cannabis are criminals... • Inform people of their rights · NZ's Blake-Palmer • Give advice and support to victims of prohibition Commission, 1973 YOU CAN HELP CHANGE THE LAW! • Join NORML today! • Write to, email, ring or · Today, drug prohibition has created a • Read Norml News magazine. visit your MP and tell them lucrative black market that is fuelling Inform yourself; then educate prohibition doesn't work. Their organised crime and making our communities your friends and family. email format is firstname. unsafe. Is this really the society you want? • Write a short letter to the [email protected] editor or call talkback the next • Stand up for your rights. If · The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is under time they mention cannabis. busted, plead not guilty. review. Write to, ring or visit your MP and tell • Enroll and vote for parties • Donate some time or money. them the current law doesn't work. Be sure to and candidates who support Become a member of NORML quote these reports when you do. sensible drug policies. or help sponsor the CannaBus. "Cannabis prohibition "The current has not been successful prohibition regime NORML New Zealand Inc. PO Box 3307 Auckland in reducing the apparent is not effective in 09 302 5255 | [email protected] | www.norml.org.nz number of cannabis limiting cannabis Yes, I want to join NORML and stop the war against * users in New Zealand. use ... facilitates cannabis users. Sign me up as a member! We recommend that the black market, Membership includes a 4-issue quarterly subscription to Norml News ...that's how many the Government review and potentially $100 = Exceptional Membership the appropriateness exposes cannabis $50 = Sustaining Membership have tried of existing policy on users to harder $20 = Regular Membership $10 = concession for students, unwaged, senior citizens cannabis and its use drugs." additional donation towards campaign materials: $__________ cannabis! and reconsider the legal Name: status of cannabis." · NZ Health Select Address: Committee Inquiry Here's why the current law isn't working · NZ Health Select Committee into the public health City/town: Inquiry into the Mental Health strategies and legal status Phone: Mobile: and why its time for a new policy Effects of Cannabis, 1998 of cannabis, 2003 don't email me Email: news and updates on all drugs, starting with cannabis. * 46% 'ever used' 16-64 age group, Ministry of Health Survey, 2009 Ideas/Skills: NL09/10 OFFICE USE. RCV: SNT: ENT: © National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc. 11/2010 reasons why prohibition has not worked REGULATION VS. PROHIBITION: CANNABIS USE AMONG 15 & 16 YEAR OLDS alternative policies REDUCE HARM & ARE NOT associated WITH INCREASED USE 7 Ever Used Used in the last month Prohibition makes communities unsafe Prohibition erodes respect for the law The Netherlands Regulated cannabis sales to adults 1 Prohibition gives criminal organisations a lucrative source 5 Almost half of all adult New Zealanders have used of untaxed income and control over drug sales in our cannabis, and very few abuse it. Criminalising more than neighbourhoods. Studies show tougher law enforcement ten thousand people every year serves no legitimate New Zealand (15-17yrs old) of the illegal drug trade leads only to greater levels of purpose, and causes enormous harm to their lives, High arrest rate violence. Regulating sales would mean cannabis consumers careers and families. Ending prohibition will help restore would not be offered other drugs. respect for the law, and give police better things to do. United States It's easy for young people to buy drugs Patients deserve safe access to Harsh sanctions 2 We all agree that it’s imperative to restrict access to 6 medicinal marijuana harmful drugs by children and other vulnerable individuals. Cannabis is proven to be an effective and safe medicine European Monitoring Centre for 0 10 20 30 40 Drugs in schools is a growing problem because 'tinny for many conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, Drugs and Drug Addiction 2004, NZ PERCENT shops' are often located near schools and they don't arthritis, HIV wasting syndrome, glaucoma, chronic pain, Drug Statistics 2001 (APHRU). ID customers. Restricting access to adults would most paraplegia, and epilepsy. Doctors and patients should effectively reduce use by minors. decide what treatment is best, not politicians or police. Prohibition undermines drug education Prohibition is a waste of money There is a better way... 3 We need effective education about drugs so that people 7 New Zealand Police have the highest cannabis arrest – young people especially – can make responsible and rate in the world, and it's very expensive! Yet new informed choices. Ending the guilt and persecution would research for WHO shows people are not deterred 1. MINIMISE HARM: removed and criminal records allow more open and honest communication. by tough law enforcement, and countries that have policies should discourage for cannabis offences wiped. reformed their drug laws do not have higher rates irresponsible use, including Enforcement of prohibition is racist of use. Legalising and regulating cannabis would best use by adolescents. 4. LEGAL CONTROLS: Though cannabis is widely used by New Zealanders in 4 control the way cannabis is sold and used, allow sales Prevention is most effective as with alcohol, cannabis use general, enforcement of drug laws impacts much harder taxes to be collected as well as save heaps of money. where cannabis is viewed should be limited to adults. on Maori, who are five times more likely to be arrested. from a public health Driving while impaired should Reforming our drug laws will reduce oppression of Maori. The table below shows the outcomes of each approach. perspective, instead of a remain prohibited, and criminal justice perspective. marketing restricted. OUTCOMES 2. STOP ARRESTING 5. REGULATE SALES: THERE ARE Safe Doesn't Age limits Separates Consumer Regulate EXAMPLES CANNABIS USERS: a commercial market for access for criminalise to restrict cannabis protection & tax of countries that have the Government should marijuana will always exist. ALTERNATIVES medicinal responsible teenage from other and safety cannabis implemented alternatives to immediately declare a to our failed War on Drugs It is better to regulate that users people use drugs standards sales cannabis prohibition moratorium on arresting market than leave it to those who choose to use organised crime. Overseas CRIMINAL PROHIBITION NEW ZEALAND, Sweden, USA (Fed. Law cannabis. Allow medicinal experience shows cannabis Illegal; imprisonment ("War on Drugs") & most States), Death penalty: Singapore, Indonesia, China & others use - let doctors decide, not law changes have not been police and politicians. associated with increased use. PROHIBITION WITH MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS Illegal; supply for medical use allowed Canada and 14 US States 3. DECRIMINALISE USE: 400,000 New Zealanders Decriminalisation S. Australia, W. Australia, ACT, NT, Czech, remove all penalties for the currently use cannabis. Illegal; fines or other civil penalties Russia and 10 US states use, possession and growing Opinion polls show 40% of cannabis by adults and the to 80% of all Kiwis support LIMITED ENFORCEMENT Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, non-profit transfer of small changes to the law, depending Switzerland, Mexico, Columbia, Argentina, De facto legal; not enforced subject to certain rules on the question asked. Uraguay, Peru. amounts. The draconian search powers of the Misuse We support the introduction Regulated SALES of Drugs Act should be of Dutch-style cannabis cafes. Legal; regulated like alcohol & tobacco Netherlands, California (medical clubs) What do you think?.
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