Cannabis Law Reform

Some facts and figures

• 52% of New Zealanders aged 15 - 45 admit to having used cannabis at some time, and 16% describe themselves as current users. Use rose more than 20% from 1990 to 1998, a period of tougher laws and increased arrests.

• New Zealand has the highest rate of arrest for cannabis offences in the world.

• In 1998/1999 there were 25,293 cannabis offences, (6% of total crime). Most of these offences were simple possession or use.

• Of these 25,293 reported offences in 1998/1999 19,000 ended in prosecution and 70 per cent of these prosecutions ended in a conviction.

• In 1997/1998 police annual expenditure on cannabis offences was $21.1 million, doubled the amount spent in 1992/1993.

• More money is spent on enforcing prohibition than on drug education and treatment. There is no funding for educating adults on safer drug use.
• The Mental Health Commission has estimated that funding for drug and alcohol treatment needs to increase by $48 million to provide treatment for all who need it. This is about the same amount the police and courts spend enforcing cannabis prohibition.

• The 1998 Drugs In New Zealand Survey found that of the four per cent of cannabis users who wanted to seek help for their cannabis use but did not, fear of the law was the main reason given.

• In 1998, 1,794 school children were suspended for drug use - fifteen per cent of all suspensions.

• Maori are over-represented in nearly all cannabis figures including arrests and suspensions.

• Cannabis use does not cause mental illness, but can have a detrimental effect on some people with pre-existing mental illnesses.

• The average potency of cannabis has not increased. The level of THC in New Zealand cannabis is considered average by international standards.

• The great majority of people who try cannabis do not go on to become regular users or go on to hard drugs.

• Drug-related deaths in New Zealand are around 90% from tobacco use, 10% from alcohol, with less than 1% from illicit and prescription drugs.

• Ending cannabis prohibition in the Netherlands, Australia and the United States has not led to increases in cannabis use.

• In the Netherlands where cannabis possession and use is not prosecuted 15 per cent of adults have used cannabis compared with 50 per cent in New Zealand; 4.5 per cent are regular users compared with 16 per cent in New Zealand.

• The 1998 Health Select Committee Inquiry into the Mental Health Effects of Cannabis unanimously recommended “the Government review the appropriateness of existing policy on cannabis and its use and reconsider the legal status of cannabis”.