Political Party Drugs Policy ComparisonWhere do the parties stand on drug law reform?
Other cannabis policy comparisons:
| Party | Cannabis policy | Likely to get MPs elected |
|---|
| ACT | No Policy | Uncertain, not looking likely |
| Alliance | Decriminalisation | No, not a chance |
| ALCP | Legalisation | No, not a chance |
| Christian Heritage NZ | Stronger prohibition | No, not a chance |
| Democrats | No Policy | No, not a chance |
| Destiny NZ | Stronger prohibition | No, not a chance |
| Direct Democracy | No Policy | No, not a chance |
| Greens | Gradual legalisation | Seems certain, but don't get complacent |
| Labour | No Policy, but sympathetic to decriminalisation | Yes, certain |
| Libertarianz | Legalisation | No, not a chance |
| Maori | No Policy | Yes, certain |
| National | Stronger prohibition, but some sympathetic MPs | Yes, certain |
| Natural Law | No Policy | No, not a chance |
| NZ First | Stronger prohibition | Yes, certain |
| Progressive Coalition | Stronger prohibition | Yes, certain |
| United Future | Stronger prohibition | Yes, certain |
ACT: NO POLICY With it's strong position on individual rights and reducing the role of government, you'd think ACT would be keen on legalising cannabis. ACT voters have the strongest support for cannabis law reform (support tends to rise with education and income), but ACT doesn't even have a drugs policy. They tried to block the inquiry, every question Stephen Franks has asked in parliament has been anti-cannabis and also note their response to Nandor & Lalla Harre's drug education budget. Got 7.1% in 2002, but look likely to miss the 5% threshold this election.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
THE ALLIANCE: DECRIMINALISATION Now that conservative "anti-drugs" Jim has left the Alliance, the remaining members have been able to agree on a policy of decriminalisation with an age limit of 18. Alliance voters had the highest rate of cannabis use (aside from the ALCP?), but the party was dogged by conflicting opinions, which meant that when they were in parliament they didn't have a policy other than to look into it. They are very unlikely to make the 5% threshold - they only got 1.3% in 2002 and several leading members left the party and instead backed the Greens or Maori parties.
The Alliance Justice Policy says:
- Decriminalise personal marijuana use; minimum age of 18 for the use of cannabis and alcohol with more effective enforcement of such restrictions and a strong education campaign aimed at young people and their parents.
The Alliance Mental Health Policy says:
- An extensive public debate on cannabis use will be encouraged, including a Commission of Enquiry into the use of cannabis in relation to both public health and the criminal justice system.
- Alcohol and drug abuse (including addiction to tranquillisers) ... will be treated within the public mental health system.
AOTEAROA LEGALISE CANNABIS PARTY: LEGALISATION ALCP have a great policy (grow your own, and regulate and tax commercial sales) but they are under-resourced and will struggle to meet basic electoral requirements. ALCP gained 1.8% of the vote in 1996 when many top NORML activists stood as candidates, including Nandor Tanczos, Mike Finlayson, Metiria Turei and Chris Fowlie, but slipped to 1.2% in 1999 after many defected to the Greens and fell again to 0.6% in 2002. Clearly will never make the 5% threshhold, but a vote will still send a symbolic message that cannabis law reform is your number one issue.
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE NZ: STRONGER PROHIBITION No!! These guys are ultra facists pretending to be Christians. Jesus preached tolerance, but these guys weren't listening. If you think the Spanish Inquisition was a good thing, then go ahead and vote for them.
The CHPNZ Law and Order Policy states:
- Oppose the legalisation of cannabis
 DEMOCRATS: NO POLICY
DESTINY NZ: STRONGER PROHIBITION More fundamentalist nonsense from this offshoot of the Destiny Church organisation. They want to eradicate illegal drugs from New Zealand. Are you going to jail us all?
The Destiny Law and Order Policy states:
- We support the concept of zero tolerance to crime
- establish a dedicated ORGANISED CRIME & DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, as prominent and resourced as our traffic department to eradicate illegal drugs and manufacturers from our communities
- We will pursue stronger sentencing for serious crime, and particularly crimes of drug supply to minors
- Greater powers will be pursued to seize proceeds of crime and gang assets
 DIRECT DEMOCRACY: NO POLICY
THE GREENS: GRADUAL LEGALISATION The only major party to advocate real change. Former NORML activist Nandor Tanczos MP has been a lone voice for the cannabis community within Parliament asking many Parliamentary Questions and forcing the pace of change. Many NORML activists are active within the Green Party and former NORML Secretary Metiria Turei joined Nandor in Parliament at Number 8 on the Greens List in 2002.
The Greens Drugs Policy used to state:
- [We] recognise that some individuals in society will choose to use drugs regardless of their legal status
- Possession and cultivation for personal use of small amounts of cannabis ought not be a crime because the present policy creates more problems than it solves.
- A comprehensive 'growlocal – homegrown' model, involving full legalisation and licencing of small-scale local cultivation and trading will be developed.
- Therapeutic, social and recreational drug use needs to be distinguished from drug abuse.
- Harm reduction must be the overriding goal of a review of drug laws.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
LABOUR: SYMPATHETIC BUT NO ACTION Labour don't like making difficult decisions - they promised much, but then did nothing, only agreeing to a Health Select Committee Inquiry after pressure from the Greens and then stalling the process for 2 years so that it ran out of time. It is clear that a vote for Labour is a vote for continued prohibition. More talking, no action.
Labour's 1999 Justice Policy stated:
- Address drug, alcohol and gambling addiction problems, which are contributing factors in the offending of up to 80 per cent of inmates
- The number of drug addiction programs run in prisons also needs to be increased
But Labour's 2002 Law and Order Policy only says:
- Evaluate the Youth Drug Court pilot programme and expand it if the results are positive.
- Establish youth offending teams to ensure a co-ordinated approach to youth offending such as drug and alcohol abuse.
While Labour's 2002 Health Policy only says that a goal is:
- Minimising harm caused by alcohol and illicit and other drug use to individuals and the community.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
LIBERTARIANZ: LEGALISATION Want to legalise everything: it's your choice. They failed to meet electoral requirements and could not stand in 2002, they are better organised this year.
The Libertarianz Policy used to state:
- All laws pertaining to drug offences (except supply to minors) to be repealed; all persons jailed for such "offences" to be released.
Now it just says:
- All laws against 'victimless crimes' involving consenting adults will be repealed ... All people currently incarcerated for 'victimless' crimes will be immediately released.
MAORI PARTY: NO POLICY YET
This brand new party have only just started developing policy. However MP Tariana Turia indicated that she would support decriminalisation.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
NATIONAL: STRONGER PROHIBITION The National Party apparantly have a policy of harm minimisation, but they are more interested in being seen to be tough. The Nats were founded on principles of reducing state interference people's lives and upholding individual rights, but not when it comes to cannabis. They want more prohibition, as if the fact that prohibition is a failure can be solved by more of it.
The National Party Police Policy states:
- Strengthen powers to confiscate the assets of convicted drug dealers
- Reduce the possession for supply thresholds for dealing in methamphetamine
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
NATURAL LAW: NO POLICY But you wouldn't expect yogic-flying hippies to jail pot smokers would you? They couldn't afford to stand in the 2002 election. Got less votes than McGillicuddy Serious in 1999.
NEW ZEALAND FIRST: NO POLICY OR COMMITTMENT Another party that doesn't have a drugs policy. Winston Peters supported a referendum prior to the 1996 election (in an attempt to appeal to ALCP supporters) but as Treasurer he later actively stifled debate, saying "we have more important things to think about."
The NZ First Law and Order Policy states:
- Introduce and trial roadside drug testing using technology currently available overseas
- expand dedicated squads for drugs and, in particular, declare war on gangs to make it impossible for them to operate illegally.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
PROGRESSIVE COALITION: STRONGER PROHIBITION
Still believe that a drug-free society is possible. Jim Anderton is "anti-drugs" and major barrier to law reform.
The Progressive Coalition Drugs Policy states:
- Implement special penalties for supplying drugs to children.
- Strengthen drug rehabilitation programmes in prisons.
- Launch a 'drug-free' publicity campaign and work with principals to get drugs out of schools.
- Strengthen border protection.
- Trial alternative legal sanctions for people caught in possession of certain drugs if they identify a supplier and enter drug rehabilitation.
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
UNITED FUTURE: PROHIBITION WITH DIVERSION Strongly oppose the decriminalisation of cannabis. They still believe that a drug-free society is possible. They are similar to the Swedish model - increased drug testing and forced treatment.
The United Future Law and Order Policy states:
- Strongly oppose the decriminalisation of cannabis and institute an education program against all drug use in schools.
The United Future Law and Order - Early Intervention Policy states:
- Increased funding for programmes such as DARE
The United Future Drugs and Dependency Policy (it has disappeared from their website) stated:
- Offer an educational and treatment option as an alternative to a legal process when an individual is apprehended for drug use.
- Re-classify drugs so they relate more effectively to health, behavioural and legal problems.
- Require prison inmates to take full toxicology testing on admission to prison, to establish the level of drug use and provide them with a clean start through tailored programmes.
- Increase commitment to drug-free prison units and establish drug-free prisons.
- Encourage worksite drug testing alongside employee assistance programmes
See all of this Party's MPs in the NORML MP database - MP's law reform views, photos, bios, and contact details.
Unless stated otherwise, copyright © 1998-2005 by NORML New Zealand, working for marijuana law reform Published on: 2003-03-09 (7083 reads) [ Go Back ] |
