In Aotearoa New Zealand’s two referenda, Official referendum results:

End of Life Choice: 65.1% pro; 33.7% against.

Cannabis legislation: 48.4% pro; 50.7% against.

Close vote on cannabis…

@Miraz Thanks for the update. One out of two is something, at least.

@dejus It’s embarrasssing to be behind the US on the cannabis law reform. And I see some US States are making even bigger changes on drug laws. The one thing is the cannabis referendum wasn’t binding so changes could still happen. Unlikely though as the focus is on Covid etc.

@Miraz Yeah, Oregon (where I am) voted to decriminalize small amounts of “hard” drugs, legalize psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms), plus fund drug treatments — using money from marijuana taxes (which were already fully legal). Wouldn’t the NZ govt like that sweet sweet tax money too?! (NY Times article on Oregon and other states measures)

@dejus Darned intelligent!

@Miraz Does NZ allow medical marijuana? That was the first step towards legalizing it here.

@Miraz That’s good. I had been wondering if they allowed marijuana for chronic pain, etc. since the “death with dignity” (what we call that law in Oregon) passed.