The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis party warns the government’s plans to introduce random roadside drug testing will have a disproportionate effect on Māori drivers, as well as drivers with mental illness.
Advocates agree they want safe roads however are concerned random roadside drug tests will impact innocent people with false positives because of their medication.
Later this year the government will implement 50,000 random roadside drug tests for 25 different drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis.
Drivers are not targeted for impaired driving but randomly and then charged based on theories of drug impairment.
The oral fluid tests will be used and if failed, a second test will occur due to the unreliability of the tests, and finally a blood test will be taken to confirm.
Maki Herbert (Te Aupouri and Te Rarawa) the co-leader of Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, told Te Ao Māori News he’s worried about those suffering with mental illness and Māori who are likely to be targeted by police.
We’re much better than that presumption of we’re a lower class citizen, we’re not... we are so much more progressive in our way of thinking that we can actually find a way to get past that. we are our own destiny so we have to make it.
— Maki Herbert
Thousands of innocent people charged for false positives
The NZ Drug Foundation said the saliva tests are unreliable which is why you must fail two before getting a blood test.
Speaking to RNZ, Dr Amie Hayley said the presence of THC in saliva or blood isn’t enough to claim someone is unsafe behind the wheel, and cannabis advocates said this legislation will mean thousands of innocent people will be charged.
Unlike alcohol, Hayley said there isn’t a linear relationship between consumption and impairment, and the levels of drug presence depend on weight and gender which influence detectable levels without necessarily affecting the person’s ability to drive.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws spokesperson Chris Fowlie also told RNZ the saliva testing will lead to many false positives because the tests will target people outside the three to four-hour window of potential impairment. As THC can be in the system for several days for regular users, including medical users.
Herbert told Te Ao Māori News the move is another form of control, and “easy work for the establishment to put seats on prison beds”.
Disproportionate effects on mentally ill people
The implementation of this itself, Herbert said is a fear-mongering that will cause more paranoia for those who suffer from mental illness.
Simeon Brown, Transport Minister said those can contest infringement if someone was taking the drug in accordance with their medical advice however, Herbert said it is vulnerable to people being hit by this.
People who are already struggling and want to live a normal life and drive, when cannabis, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medication remain in the system for days and tests will come back positive even if someone consumed it outside the window of impairment.
When they fail they must go with the police to a health practitioner and have their blood taken.
If the blood test is a fail, they will have to contest with and advocate for their innocence and rights and prove they are under medical advice.
Herbert said the government should be focused on helping the wellness of mentally ill people and those with addictions rather than criminalising them.
She said alcohol and methamphetamines are the biggest concerns, the former being less prioritised than it used to be.
She believes money should be invested into helping rehabilitation and creating community hubs for those going through rehabilitation, rather than isolating those struggling.
There are many people prescribed medicinal cannabis, but also people who suffer from mental illness, chronic illness, and autoimmune disorders who self-medicate because of the known health benefits of cannabis.
This is why Herbert said the government should take cannabis out of the Misuse Drugs Act and put it into the health sector.
The targeting of Māori
There has been a history of Māori speaking out against racial profiling, Māori receiving higher sentences for the same crimes, and police brutality against Māori.
In 2020, then-Police Minister Stuart Nash said there were no issues of systemic racism but instead an “unconscious bias”.
Still, in 2023, the Ministry of Justice said Māori are overrepresented at every stage in the criminal justice system. Māori are 37% of people proceeded against by Police, 45% of people convicted, and 52% of people in prison.
Herbert believes the legislation will target Māori.
“We’re much better than that presumption of we’re a lower class citizen, we’re not... we are so much more progressive in our way of thinking that we can actually find a way to get past that. we are our own destiny so we have to make it,” she said.
The solution
Herbert agreed we want safe roads where people aren’t in danger because of drug use, but is worried about the harm this legislation could cause by targeting the wrong people.
As mentioned before Herbert said law reform in removing cannabis from the Misuse Drugs Act would help to prevent medicinal users. However, Herbert said there is power in being Māori, even if you don’t believe in the system. For instance, the law wasn’t needed to change the hemp industry or medicinal cannabis use.
She said to stay mindful, determined, and passionate, and to come together as a community to find the solutions the government isn’t providing.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel if we just stick to what we know, and that’s our Māoritanga, Te Ao Māori,” she said.
“Our tūpuna have always pioneered new times, so let’s start pioneering new times”
In loving memory Michael Allan Britnell
23 October 1951 - 8 May 2024
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party President
1996 - 2024
Michael Britnell,
Party position – President
Born, educated, and married in Christchurch and ran his own accommodation business in Christchurch.
“I deal with homeless people every day in tears looking for accommodation, whom we are not always able to help.”
I joined the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party in 1996.
I have run in every election since 1999 to articulate the need for regulation of the cannabis industry.
“ALCP 2023: Truth, Justice, Freedom, Safety, Prosperity”
Kia Ora:
WHANAU AND COMMUNITY
LEGALISATION AND CONTROL BILL STRAIGHT TO SELECT COMMITTEE BUT AS CANNABIS CHOICE BILL (with inclusive ‘small player’ amendments)
MORITORIUM ON ARRESTS
5 plants per household immediately allowed
Only supply to minors remains arrestable. Andrew Little’s Draft bill proposes R20 age limit precaution.
Local skills, knowledge and Enterprise
Edibles Medibles Vaporised Quality Product
Responsible Adult Consumers, Homegrow, Health Promotion
Strictly NOT FOR CHILDREN (consistent message alongside tobacco, vapes, liquor, etc)
Jobs, Revenue and Tax, Cottage Industry, Tourism Post Covid Recovery.
Restore Law and Order
Friendly Police FOCUS ON REAL CRIME Courts no longer the enemy…
Expunge Criminal Records
Drug education untainted by hypocritical double standards
Drug testing for impairment, not recent use of easily detected cannabis
Civil Liberty, Human Rights, Cognitive Liberty
Respect for Nature
Honest Representation and Accountability in MMP Parliamen
HIGHLY Successful Canadian LEGAL Model has origins in New Zealand’s 2008 ‘Class D’ protocol : “SAFER THAN ALCOHOL”
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) was founded ahead of the first MMP Election in 1996 by Mike Finlayson, Chris Fowlie, Nandor Tanczos and Norml team in Auckland. Michael Appleby led the Party from 1996 until taking a break in 2013.
Interim leaders were Julian Crawford, Abe Grey and Alista Gregory. Deputies have included Mike Finlayson, Blair Anderson Allan Webb, Steven Wilkinson, Mike Britnell, Tim Shadbolt…and 1st co-leader 2017 Jeffery Lyes (and Maki Herbert). Now our duty leader.
Since 2017 ALCP introduced Co-Leadership and has been co-led by Maki Herbert and Jeff Lye, and currently Co-Led Maki Herbert and Michael Appleby (back by popular demand!), with Jeff Lye as Deputy Leader.
The ALCP has contested all nine MMP general elections, as well as all twelve by-elections. and is determined to continue campaigning until fully liberal and beneficial Law Reform is properly REPRESENTED in Aotearoa, NZ
Since 1996 many official inquiries reports and reviews have highlighted the failure and inequity of prohibition in NZ, culmuinating in 2020s 160page proposed “harm minimisation” Cannabis Legalisation and Control bill.
“We believe cannabis legal status is the issue against which we measure our progress as a Civil Society.”
CURRENT PARTY EXCUTIVE also includes long-time advocates and community leaders:
President: Mike Britnell
VIce President: Kevin O’Connell
Secretary: Irinka Britnell
Treasurer: Paula Lambert
Criminalisation continues to disproportionately impinge on huge number of consumers whose use or cultivation of weed is relatively inconsequential and NO ONE ELSE’S BUSINESS.
It makes a mockery of rule of law. Because illegal stakes are high, and monetary incentives are great, “shit happens” on the black market and it all multiplies from there.
Let’s get rid of this far-worse-than-useless racially applied, criminality-promoting ‘dinosaur’ law!
Philosophy we stand by: “UPHOLDING OF INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS WHERE THESE DO NOT UNREASONABLY IMPINGE ON OTHERS” (NZ Ministry of Health - evidence based National Policy on Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs, 1995)
ALCP works to de-stigmatise the cannabis legal status issue in NZ and remediate the current toxic representation situation under ‘nope coalition’ MMP in NZ Parliament.
We will correct the corrupted “harm minimization evidence base” in government with Ministries plundering taxpayer money MAKING WORK FOR THEMSELVES.
ALCP will make Aotearoa New Zealand a much nicer and SAFER, FAIRER, PROSPEROUS and HONEST place for all Kiwis!
ACCOUNTABILITY? Do you feel cheated by the 2020 referendum? Well, we do too…
Stop this invasive unjustified counter-productive law! PROHIBITION ALIENATES AND DRIVES CRIME AND RUINS LIVES AT HUGE COST TO TAXPAYER $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Liberalised in Holland since 1976, isn’t NZ being kept in the dark? 520 cannabis charges per month???
Explore our evidence-based FULL-SPECTRUM policy across Health, Justice, Law and Order, Human Rights, Employment, Economy, Education, Values, Environment, Tourism…
- why Cannabis Hemp liberation is much more than a single issue but arguably the single most important issue for NZ communities - On Principle.
The ALCP's policies all relate to cannabis / hemp. These include legalising possession, growing and use of cannabis for those over 18 (consistent with alcohol & tobacco), taxing companies involved in the cannabis industry, removing restrictive red tape and need for a licence to grow hemp, and funding credible drug education and research.
RESTORE JUSTICE to all wrongly imprisoned and bullied conscientious objectors. ALCP supports NORML, Daktory, ALL grower enthusiasts, Roaring Lions, Green Fairies and Social Club Entrepreneurship. ALCP does NOT SUPPORT supply to minors of either Cannabis Alcohol Tobacco or Vapes.