New Zealand to Decide Soon on Marijuana and Euthanasia Legalization
At the beginning of the year, New Zealand politicians promised citizens that the production, distribution, and use of recreational marijuana would be fully legalized by 2020. In addition, the issue of legalizing euthanasia for patients suffering from severe chronic and terminal illnesses has gained significant support among voters. It is quite possible that by the end of the year, New Zealanders will be able to vote on the legalization of both marijuana and euthanasia at a nationwide referendum.
As expected, politicians and public figures in the country are divided on both issues, presenting their arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana and the euthanasia procedure.
Full Legalization of Marijuana in New Zealand
In recent years, public opinion in New Zealand has shifted toward supporting the legalization of marijuana production and distribution. According to a public opinion poll conducted by the New Zealand Drug Foundation at the end of 2017, about 65% of the population supports the idea of full decriminalization of marijuana. Another poll, conducted a year earlier by the government, showed that about 55% of voters were ready to support a bill legalizing the production and distribution of marijuana for therapeutic use.
As Ross Bell, head of the Drug Foundation, noted in an interview with the New Zealand Herald, “Regulating the marijuana market within the law will allow the country to benefit from the plant’s popularity: a legal marijuana business will bring tax revenue to the state, while providing consumers with access to higher quality and cheaper products than those offered by the black market. In addition, if marijuana becomes a legal product in the eyes of society, we can talk more openly with younger generations about safety and the culture of its use. Most of our fellow citizens already recognize these advantages of full reform. So why don’t our leaders see such obvious things?”
In other words, if a public referendum on marijuana reform actually takes place, there is little doubt that New Zealanders will confidently support not only decriminalization but also full legalization.
Politicians and Public Opinion
Until recently, the country was led by Prime Minister Bill English, who was staunchly opposed to any form of marijuana reform, even at the local level. However, the situation in the government has changed dramatically. Jacinda Ardern, head of the Labour Party, had never openly supported marijuana reform before, but she recently agreed to hold a public referendum on full legalization as part of an agreement with the Green Party, which is part of the ruling coalition.
Since the Labour and Green parties officially support reform and hold a majority in parliament, a bill supporting the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana would likely find political backing. On the other hand, despite their position, the administration is in no hurry to present any concrete reform proposals to the public. As Justice Minister Andrew Little told reporters, “We simply don’t have the time or resources to draft a regulatory project for the marijuana market. However, the public will be able to offer us their ideas and proposals for a future regulatory system during the expected referendum.”
The government supports only one main restriction for the legal marijuana market: the product should not be accessible or advertised to youth and children. Otherwise, politicians are ready to listen to the public’s ideas regarding a possible legalization system. “Given all the factors, most likely, a finished reform project will be submitted to parliament only by the end of 2019,” Little suggests.
Legalization of Euthanasia
Alongside the idea of legalizing marijuana, the “End of Life Choice Bill,” which is already in parliament, has also received broad public support. This bill provides for the legalization of euthanasia at the request of seriously or terminally ill citizens. Before receiving permission for the procedure, the patient must undergo a series of consultations with several doctors to determine whether euthanasia is appropriate. After consultations and examinations, if there are no treatment options, the patient is granted the right to legal euthanasia by taking a lethal dose under medical supervision.
This bill was introduced to parliament in early 2017 by David Seymour, leader of the local ACT party, which supports euthanasia. In December, the bill successfully passed a public referendum, where it was supported by the majority of voters. Now, before coming into force, the euthanasia bill must receive official approval from the New Zealand parliament.
One Referendum for Both Issues
Since there is a possibility that the euthanasia bill will be sent back for revision, it is possible that both the marijuana legalization project and a new version of the euthanasia bill will be discussed at a single referendum at the end of the year.
As Mr. Little notes, it is quite possible that both referendums will be held on the same day to save government funds. “The current administration has a pretty tight budget, so I doubt parliament will agree to allocate funds for two separate referendums,” he explains.
Some members of the legislature and government suggest postponing the marijuana legalization discussion to 2020, during the parliamentary elections. James Shaw, a representative of the Green Party, believes that both referendums should be held during this period so the government can also present its ideas to the public. “It will be easier for voters to discuss and vote on all three issues at once, rather than on separate dates,” he says.
Other politicians believe that the “sensitive” issue of euthanasia should not be raised during parliamentary elections. Chloe Swarbrick, a Green Party MP, thinks the euthanasia legalization project should be postponed until the current administration has proven itself to the public. “The issue of marijuana legalization finds broader support among different segments of the electorate. On the other hand, our coalition could lose the votes of religious and conservative voters if we allow doctors to legally perform euthanasia procedures,” she notes.