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NZ Herald 7 September 2020
Our additional comment:Well said Kate Hawkesby:
“It’s hard when much of the information in advance of this vote is skewed from one angle only – & muddied with spurious medicinal message.”
We’re trying to balance the message. Perhaps some of your colleagues could be less bias.

Amidst the current blitz of pro-cannabis legalisation media – both social and mainstream – a few things are getting lost.

One is balance. Where are the “vote no” stories?

Two, is the facts. No, we are not voting on legalising medicinal cannabis. That’s already legal.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation – pro the yes vote – has made claims that legalising recreational cannabis will make access to medicinal cannabis easier. That’s the claim. But it’s not what we’re voting on. Yet it hasn’t stopped a lot of the messaging and advertising around the referendum being focused on medicinal.

Three, even the pro-legalisation campaigners accept there are risks in normalising cannabis use.

One “yes-vote” columnist pointed out that “not all the facts support a rosy picture of life after a ‘yes’ vote… ” She pointed out that normalisation of cannabis use “won’t be good for everyone” and that “…legalisation probably won’t wipe out the criminal market completely either”.

Despite that, her premise was that no social and health issues are “tied up in tidy bows…”

In other words, it’s not perfect but let’s vote it in anyway. That’s a worrying low-bar approach to a potentially major public health issue for this country.
READ MORE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12362658

Stuff co.nz 6 September 2020
Our additional comment: “The worst things that we see are probably related to the psychological harms … the effect that has on personality, the effect that has on anxiety, on mood, on the triggers for psychosis… She said it was contradictory to propose the legalisation of cannabis alongside a campaign to reduce smoking in New Zealand. “We’ve lost the argument with alcohol and cigarettes already and this is an opportunity to not lose this one.” As a medical professional, it was frustrating to see people confuse the referendum on recreational cannabis with medicinal cannabis, which is already legal. There was a legitimate pathway for people who needed medicinal cannabis. – Dr Kate Baddock, New Zealand Medical Association chairwoman.

A Northland GP has called for the proposed cannabis bill to be “thrown out”, and for the drug to be decriminalised rather than legalised.

Dr Kate Baddock, who is also the New Zealand Medical Association chairwoman, says she has been observing the harmful effects of cannabis on her patients for 30 years.

“The worst things that we see are probably related to the psychological harms … the effect that has on personality, the effect that has on anxiety, on mood, on the triggers for psychosis.

“We see it often enough now while cannabis is illegal that we would expect to see a lot more of it, if it were to be made legal.”

Last week the Sunday Star-Times spoke to people in favour of legalising the cannabis referendum, and this week those opposed had their say.

Baddock said there was no legal barrier to treating patients suffering from cannabis addiction, but if they went before the courts they often missed out on receiving the health treatment they needed.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/cannabis-referendum/122667284/northland-gp-calls-for-binning-the-cannabis-referendum-decriminalising-the-drug-instead

Stuff co.nz 4 September 2020
Our additional comment: Superb comments against the social justice argument which is used for legalising cannabis
“Cannabis issues are presented from a middle-class Pākehā paradigm, says Kaa, that carries fewer risks for them than other sections of society. He says for those living in poverty or dealing with systemic racism, cannabis is a lot more damaging and dangerous. “It won’t fix racism in the justice system, we shouldn’t pretend it will,” says Kaa. “Our history of social policy in this country really worries me. It’s going to send a signal cannabis is accessible and okay to use.””

Anglican minister and historian Dr Hirini Kaa has weighed up all the evidence and will be voting no in the referendum.

The medicinal argument confuses the focus of the referendum, he says, which is about recreational use. Kaa says if everyone votes no to recreational use, medicinal cannabis will still be allowed and prescribed by a doctor, and hemp will still be legal.

Cannabis issues are presented from a middle-class Pākehā paradigm, says Kaa, that carries fewer risks for them than other sections of society. He says for those living in poverty or dealing with systemic racism, cannabis is a lot more damaging and dangerous.

The proposed legislation also relies on the health, education and justice systems mitigating any harm, but those systems don’t currently work for Māori, says Kaa.

“It won’t fix racism in the justice system, we shouldn’t pretend it will,” says Kaa. “Our history of social policy in this country really worries me. It’s going to send a signal cannabis is accessible and okay to use.”

Kaa agrees that a health approach to cannabis is better than the current punitive regime. But it’s not enough to sway his vote.

He smoked his first joint when he was 14 years old. His older cousin, a heavy user, introduced him to the drug.

“They used it several times a day and thought it was harmless to give to a 14-year old,” says Kaa.

“It gets into our whānau, it’s insidious. It’s a creepy drug. It’s not good for us.”

He doesn’t use cannabis now but sees its effects on his wider whānau.

“They wait every day to have a smoke. They wait for the growing season. It might not be psychologically addictive in a clinical sense but it’s certainly in the context of poverty, hopelessness many of my whanaunga are in. It’s addictive in that context.

“I see my 15-year-old nephews who just want to smoke weed every day, so they can escape from their reality. This is the dangers of cannabis in our communities.”
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300096454/cannabis-referendum-would-legalisation-change-the-racebased-targeting-of-mori

Radio NZ News 30 August 2020
Our additional comment: In March, a Research New Zealand poll found 43% were in favour of legalising cannabis, and 33% opposed it. That has now been turned around and this month support for the law change has slid to 39%, while it is now 46% of people who are against legalising recreational cannabis. “A really big change and most of the people who have now moved into the ‘not-in-favour’ camp have come from the group who were sitting on the fence.”

A survey ahead of October’s referendum on legalising recreational cannabis shows a big surge in opposition to a law change, with 46 percent now against legalising the drug.

In March, a Research New Zealand poll found 43 percent were in favour of legalising cannabis, and 33 percent opposed it.

But Research NZ partner Emanuel Kalafatelis said that has now been turned around and this month support for the law change has slid to 39 percent, while it is now 46 percent of people who are against legalising recreational cannabis.

“A really big change and most of the people who have now moved into the ‘not-in-favour’ camp have come from the group who were sitting on the fence.”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018761746/support-for-legalising-cannabis-going-up-in-smoke-survey

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Stuff co.nz 23 August 2020
OPINION: Thirty years ago, New Zealand dreamed a big dream – to prevent the harm and death caused by tobacco smoking.

At the time, one in three adult New Zealanders – adults and youth – smoked regularly.

In comparison to other health risks we face, smoking is uniquely harmful to the health of individuals, whānau, the health services and society as a whole.

When used as directed by the manufacturers, up to two-thirds of people who smoke die early from smoking tobacco, and one-third of those deaths are in middle-aged people who lose, on average, more than twenty years of life.

Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of premature death in New Zealand.

As I reflect on my years of public service, one of my proudest achievements is leading the passage of New Zealand’s first comprehensive tobacco control legislation.

As Minister of Health in 1989, I wanted to promote a strengthened response to the tobacco epidemic and the tobacco industry behind it.

The Smoke-free Environments Act was passed under my leadership as Minister of Health thirty years ago this week in 1990.

It required things we now take for granted: it banned smoking on public transport, banned sales to under-sixteen year olds, required disclosure of ingredients, restricted smoking in indoor workplaces, banned tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and established the Health Sponsorship Council (now the Health Promotion Agency) to replace tobacco sponsorship.

A private members bill extended the Act in 1995. With policy advances also stemming from the 2011 government inquiry into the impact of smoking on Māori, New Zealand continues to have among the most advanced tobacco control measures in the world.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300087854/helen-clark-new-zealands-smokefree-gains-among-my-proudest-achievements-but-theres-more-work-to-do

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CGTN 22 August 2020
Our additional comment: SayNopeToDope campaign and spokesman Aaron Ironside are included in the coverage of the referendum by China Global Television Network.
International interest!

Voters in New Zealand this year will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Under the proposal, cannabis would be grown and sold by licensed businesses and will be taxed. The possession and use of cannabis has been a crime in New Zealand since 1961. Public opinion is evenly divided on the legalization issue, but those who’re campaigning against it blame it for mental health issues and family violence. The proposed law limits potency of cannabis, smoking in public is banned, and teenagers can’t legally buy it. Sales taxes will also be spent on health and education programs, but opponents say that doesn’t justify legalization. And if a majority vote Yes, and if the present Labour government is re-elected as polls suggest, the drug could be legal within 18 months.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-08-22/New-Zealand-to-vote-on-legalization-of-recreational-marijuana-TavxEJ5fna/index.html

Stuff co.nz 24 August 2020
Family First Comment: Ouch! The smokescreen of the Drug Foundation and Chloe are destroyed by this good doctor….
So many good statements that it’s hard to know which bit to highlight!
“Suggesting that voting yes for recreational cannabis will mean better access for medicinal treatment is misleading at worst and disingenuous at best…. As a GP I feel a duty to help ensure the public is properly informed when they cast their vote, they should know about the existing availability of medicinal cannabis and the potential risks of self-prescribing cannabis for health reasons. I’m concerned that many voters have been led to believe a cannabis referendum ‘Yes vote’ equals a ‘Yes’ for medicinal cannabis. This is not the case; patients already have access to medicinal cannabis. It’s legal under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme and currently available via prescription from doctors who can identify any potential drug interactions and adverse effects that may affect a patient.”
“Admissions to psychiatric hospitals for marijuana induced psychosis will go through the roof. Over the last few years we’ve put millions of dollars into the prevention and treatment of mental illness. Speak to any health professional that works in this field and they’ll tell you the impact that marijuana has on psychosis. Increasing access will undoubtedly result in a surge in mental health admissions. Smoking cannabis comes with the same risk of lung damage as smoking cigarettes and let’s remember New Zealand has made a commitment to be smokefree by 2025.”
#VoteNopeToDope

OPINION: Suggesting that voting yes for recreational cannabis will mean better access for medicinal treatment is misleading at worst and disingenuous at best.

With the cannabis referendum fast approaching, arguments for and against the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use are being put forward by numerous interested parties.

As a GP I feel a duty to help ensure the public is properly informed when they cast their vote, they should know about the existing availability of medicinal cannabis and the potential risks of self-prescribing cannabis for health reasons.

I’m concerned that many voters have been led to believe a cannabis referendum ‘Yes vote’ equals a ‘Yes’ for medicinal cannabis. This is not the case; patients already have access to medicinal cannabis. It’s legal under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme and currently available via prescription from doctors who can identify any potential drug interactions and adverse effects that may affect a patient.

Should recreational cannabis be legalised it may become more commercially viable for local companies to also enter the medicinal cannabis market, however this is not a given. The Ministry of Health has set stringent requirements for the approval of new medicinal cannabis products and no new applications have been made to date.

However, the public should be aware that legalising cannabis for recreational use isn’t a guarantee of better access to safe, tested and approved cannabis products for medicinal treatment.

Dr Mark Hotu is a GP and medicinal cannabis specialist at the Green Doctors clinic.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/cannabis-referendum/122437472/cannabis-referendum-this-is-about-recreational-use-not-medicinal-treatment

Otago Daily Times 22 August 2020
Family First Comment: Yes! Well said Nick McIvor.
From someone who cares for our children…
“King’s High School rector Nick McIvor has spoken out over his worries about what could happen in education if non-medical cannnabis is legalised.
“We could be drifting towards something to the detriment of our young people; something that will be deeply regretted in future,””

King’s High School rector Nick McIvor has spoken out over his worries about what could happen in education if non-medical cannnabis is legalised.

“We could be drifting towards something to the detriment of our young people; something that will be deeply regretted in future,” Mr McIvor, said in a message on the school’s official Facebook page.

Mr McIvor acknowledged a range of views for and against legalisation in the lead-up to the referendum, but said he was “struggling to see how legalisation would improve the lives of young people in New Zealand”.

” I fear that it would make them worse,” he said in his Friday evening message.

Several of more than 130 people who responded to his comments supported his views, and one person said it had taken “a lot of courage” to speak out, and this was appropriate from a school principal.

However, many people took issue with his comments and several strongly questioned the appropriateness of using the school’s official Facebook site to give a personal view.
READ MORE: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/mixed-reaction-kings-rectors-drug-post

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The marijuana lobby gets very upset at any suggestion of marijuana being called a gateway drug. Of course, not everyone who starts using marijuana uses other drugs; some just go on to stronger versions of marijuana, such as “wax,” “dabs” or vapes. Others may not use anything stronger than the old-fashioned weed of the last century.

Yet the scientific evidence suggests it is a gateway drug that can open the doors to other addictions, including alcohol: Studies show that marijuana affects dopamine receptors and our brain’s reward system which may lead to the use of many other different drugs. In one study done by the University of Michigan Medical School, researchers found a negative correlation between the amount of marijuana consumed over time and the amount of dopamine that was released in the brain in response. Smokers will then seek other drugs in order to achieve the high they used to experience with pot.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says cannabinoids are able to decrease the reactivity of brain dopamine reward circuits over time, leaving frequent marijuana users vulnerable to other drug addiction. Additionally, THC promotes an enhanced response to other drugs in the same way that alcohol and nicotine do, which may lead to the progression of more drug addictions that may cause a toxic overdose.