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The final proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill is out. This post is about why, if you’re a conservative, you should vote yes in the Cannabis referendum.
But first a summary:
The Bill sets out a way for the Government to control and regulate cannabis. It proposes rules for growing, selling, buying, and consuming cannabis.
The Bill’s main purpose is to reduce cannabis-related harm to individuals, families/whanau and communities.
[…]The Bill would do this by:
providing access to legal cannabis that meets quality and potency requirements
eliminating the illegal supply of cannabis
raising awareness of the health risks associated with cannabis use
restricting young people’s access to cannabis
limiting the public visibility of cannabis
requiring health warnings on packaging and at the time of purchase
improving access to health and social services, and other kinds of support for families/whanau
making sure the response to any breach of the law is fair, encourages compliance and reduces overall harm.
Drug driving and being stoned at work aren’t covered which really, if you think about it, is how it should be as they’re separate issues. Still, there is the risk of legalisation resulting in a significant increase in use and therefore more people driving under the influence of cannabis. The good news is that nowhere weed has been legalised has there been a significant increase in use except for the over 60s age group.
Colorado has seen a massive dip in youth use although too much shouldn’t be taken from this. Cannabis use amongst youth has been diminishing across the board in the US. Yep, kids in America are rebelling by not doing drugs.
In any case, the bill has been written to mitigate the risk of an increase in cannabis use.
There will be an age limit of 20 and a cap on potency, and the market will be controlled by the government via licences.
An assessment would apply to all licence applicants, directors, and people overseeing cannabis operations under an authorisation. This assessment would consider their ability to comply with requirements, disqualifying factors, and any other factors which influence the person’s suitability. Police vetting would be included in this process. Some less serious previous convictions will not, on their own, disqualify the person.
[…]A cap would limit the amount of cannabis available for sale in the licensed market. Licensed businesses would apply for a portion of the cap. The Authority would be able to adjust the cap each year as required. No licence holder would be able to hold more than 20% of the cap.
The Bill includes 3 guiding principles, which the Authority would apply when deciding which businesses would be given a portion of the cap. The Authority would consider the degree to which the licence applicant:
represents or partners with communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis
generates social benefit and builds community partnerships
promotes employment opportunities and career pathways.
The cap could change over time and affect the amount of cannabis businesses would be able to supply to the market.
Part of the cap would be set aside for micro-cultivators (licensed businesses growing on a small scale).
Why should you, as a conservative, vote ‘yes’? Cannabis should never have been banned in the first place. The prohibition of cannabis, much like the prohibition of alcohol, was a radical policy, and has always been a radical policy. It has never been about conservatism. One of the things about conservatism is change only when there is a good and sound reason.
Second, prohibition has done nothing to contain the use of cannabis. Drug laws should be about mitigating the risk of harm from drugs, both to the user and others. This Bill is an attempt to mitigate the risk of harm from cannabis by regulating the market, rather than simply trying to ban it altogether.
Finally, cannabis has a lower harm profile than alcohol, and as famous conservative Jordan Peterson said, if something is less harmful than alcohol then it should be legalised.
The black market won’t disappear overnight. In a properly regulated market, those who abuse cannabis should find it harder to get weed and it’s very unlikely that the government will get everything right straight out of the gate especially given its track record. Already, for example, people are complaining about the potency limits. But those are teething issues. Bottom line is: cannabis isn’t all that great anyway. It’s not the great harmful demon drug people and the media have made it out to be, nor is it the great miracle cure. About the only thing it’s got going for it, in my opinion, is that it’s slightly better than alcohol.
End the ridiculousness. Vote Yes.
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