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Here's what I wrote to the PM...
Dear Prime Minister
During the past 18 months I was a member of your Chief Science Advisor’s Expert Panel on Cannabis.
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Dear Prime Minister
During the past 18 months I was a member of your Chief Science Advisor’s Expert Panel on Cannabis.
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I would like to congratulate your previous Government for writing a most excellent piece of legislation in the form of the Cannabis Legalization and Control Bill. I had the privilege of being consulted during the process...
and most everything I and my colleagues suggested had been included. I am very grateful for having been able to contribute to something so important for New Zealand.
You will have seen the news today regarding the narrow failure of the cannabis referendum. But one important thing to note is that it was so close –
almost 50% of the electorate was in favour of the proposed Bill, showing that there is indeed not only an appetite, but a mandate for drug law reform in New Zealand.
We also have seen that some of the No campaigners, including The Salvation Army, would be in favour of a hard decriminalization in which the Police are required not to arrest and refer for prosecution members of the public who are caught with a possession-sized supply of drugs.
I would , therefore, like to respectfully urge you to NOT consider the matter closed, and to take up the issue of drug law reform, which is so desperately needed in New Zealand.
This referendum result has not made cannabis go away, and it remains our responsibility to deal with the problems caused by cannabis and other drugs in a more sensible manner that reduces harm across our society.
Please accept my congratulations on your second term as our Prime Minister.
Best wishes
Professor Joe Boden
Best wishes
Professor Joe Boden
