17th July 2018
TO: The Prime Minister Right Honorable Jacinda Ardern, Acting Prime Minister The Right Honorable Winston Peters and Green Party Leadership James Shaw, Marama Davidson
Dear Honorable Members of Parliament,
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party are requesting that the Prime Minister direct the recently appointed Chief Science Advisor Professor Juliet Gerrard, to answer the following questions in regard to the science of cannabis.
1. To Test the truth of the Misuse of Drugs act 1975. What is the scientific basis for the prohibition of cannabis and for continuing the prohibition of cannabis?
2. What is the potential impact on the environment of large scale hemp growing by diversifying and reducing the environmental impacts of dangerous forestry and toxic dairy?
Also, providing the basis for biodegradable plastics and waterway cleansing?
3. What is the potential socio-economic benefit of less arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment on the justice system and community? For example no need for new prisons.
And what effects would the reduction of associated economic and social stresses have on the wider community?
4. If costs of prohibition were removed, what impact would redistribution of those resources have on communities and the greater economy? For example the health and education sectors?
5. What economic impact would a large scale cannabis industry producing many thousands of products have on New Zealand’s export/import economy and infrastructure?
6. What is the potential impact on the health sector of cannabis being used widely as a medicine for many chronic illnesses? What potential benefits would home grown cannabis have on public health and health sector costs?
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 was intended to stop people using cannabis. It did not succeed instead, the numbers have dramatically increased across New Zealand to the current day.
This failed policy has cost us billions of dollars, criminalizing thousands of New Zealanders, inflicting life -long negative social impacts and needs investigation.
It is time for the science of cannabis to be in the conversation. Just like science has cleared up the multimillion dollar methamphetamine debacle, the government must equally be answerable for its actions on cannabis. Why is it continuing to persecute, prosecute, convict and incarcerate cannabis consumers? Many countries, Canada the latest, have listened to the science and reformed their cannabis laws. The 2011 Law Commission report stated: “cannabis should be treated as a health matter, not a Criminal issue.”
Our citizens need to see the scientific evidence that justifies cannabis’s inclusion and evidence for, the continuation of cannabis in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Science is about the pursuit of truth. Prohibition of cannabis is based on a bedrock of lies started by the US in the 1930’s for commercial (Petrol/ Chemical Industry) and political (Control Mexican Immigration) purposes, nothing to do with the science.
New Zealand and the world was sold one of the biggest fake news, political lies in the last century. We need to stop perpetuating this fabrication. The very basis of political integrity are the values of truth and justice, and the restoration of these in regard to cannabis is at stake.
We look forward to your reply and welcome the opportunity for further discussion, expansion or explanation of the above matters.
Thank you for reading our letter.
Yours faithfully
Co Leader - Michael Appleby Ph 0274403363
Co Leader - Maki Herbert Ph 022410 8369
President - Steven Wilkinson Ph 027 506 6915
Vice President - Michael Britnell Ph 022 082 4399
On behalf of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party Executive
Cc – Chief Science Advisor – Professor Juliet Gerrard