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# Undecided on the Cannabis Referendum: 10 Pros & Cons of Legalising the Drug
- URL: https://goodoil.news/undecided-on-the-cannabis-referendum-10-pros-cons-of-legalising-the-drug/
- Published: 2020-10-02T03:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-01T04:53:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Post
- Tags: Election 2020, Health, Law, NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 02:38

**Patrick van Esch** [Auckland University of Technology](https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137?ref=goodoil.news)  
**Michelle O’Shea** [Western Sydney University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092?ref=goodoil.news)  
**Sarah Duffy** [Western Sydney University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092?ref=goodoil.news)

The [latest poll](https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/1-news-colmar-brunton-poll-support-cannabis-legalisation-dropping-end-life-choice-remains-steady-v1?ref=goodoil.news) shows a drop in support by New Zealanders for the recreational use of cannabis ahead of next month’s [referendum](https://www.referendums.govt.nz/cannabis/index.html?ref=goodoil.news) on the issue.

The [1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll](https://static.colmarbrunton.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/17-21-September-2020%5F1-NEWS-Colmar-Brunton-Poll-report-.pdf?ref=goodoil.news) found only 35% of people polled said they supported the bill, down from 40% in June’s poll. Those who said they did not support the bill were at 53%, up from 49% in June. Another 11% either did not know or refused to answer.

Other polls had earlier shown a close vote, [neck and neck](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122628576/cannabis-referendum-new-poll-shows-dead-heat-in-legalise-dope-vote?ref=goodoil.news), [too close to call](https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/cannabis-referendum-too-close-to-call-poll.html?ref=goodoil.news).

National leader Judith Collins says the party caucus will [vote no in the referendum](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/423287/national-caucus-to-vote-against-cannabis-at-referendum-judith-collins?ref=goodoil.news). Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has maintained a strict “no comment” on her voting intentions, despite [admitting](https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/leaders-debate-jacinda-ardern-admits-smoking-cannabis-long-time-ago-but-wont-reveal-referendum-vote?ref=goodoil.news) she once smoked cannabis “a long time ago”.

So with less than a month to go to the vote, if you’re undecided, here’s a list of the pros and cons of what the consequences could be.

#### Pros: taking control

**1\. Economic growth**

Establishing a legal cannabis industry creates a range of skilled and unskilled jobs. It could generate more than [NZ$640 million](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c%5Fid=1&objectid=12363248&ref=goodoil.news) in tax revenue for the NZ government.

The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing job markets in the [United States](https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurphy/2019/05/20/cannabis-is-becoming-a-huge-job-creator/?ref=goodoil.news). In one year, cannabis retailers netted the state of Massachusetts [US$393 million](https://mass-cannabis-control.com/first-year-of-adult-use-marijuana-retail-operations-in-massachusetts-tallies-393-7-million-in-gross-sales-sets-benchmarks-for-growth/?ref=goodoil.news) in gross sales.

Two years after launching a legal cannabis market, California has surpassed [US$1 billion](https://www.ocregister.com/2020/03/10/california-passes-1-billion-in-cannabis-tax-revenue-two-years-after-launching-legal-market/?ref=goodoil.news) in tax revenue.

**2\. Health not handcuffs**

Prohibition has not stopped New Zealanders from using cannabis. [Research](https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/cannabis-use-2012-13-new-zealand-health-survey?ref=goodoil.news) shows 15% of men and 8% of women in NZ used cannabis over a 12-month period in 2012-13.

Legalising cannabis could save the NZ justice system a staggering [NZ$11.4 million](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c%5Fid=1&objectid=12363248&ref=goodoil.news) a year. Not to mention the social benefit of no longer incarcerating non-violent, otherwise law-abiding citizens who then have to cope with a [life-long criminal record](https://www.healthnothandcuffs.nz/?ref=goodoil.news).

Maori have higher rates of cannabis use than non-Maori. Even accounting for higher usage rates, [research](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1177083X.2020.1760897?ref=goodoil.news) found Maori are more likely to be convicted on cannabis charges then non-Maori.

By legalising cannabis, use becomes an issue of health and social welfare rather than a [criminal one](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13087?ref=goodoil.news).

**3\. Improves access for health patients**

Cannabis is used as therapy for a number of health applications. It has been legally available for [medical use](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicinal-cannabis-agency/about-medicinal-cannabis-scheme?ref=goodoil.news) in NZ since April 2020.

Cannabis is used to [treat](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085?ref=goodoil.news) nausea and vomiting, the common side effects of cancer treatment. It may be a [therapy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29511052/?ref=goodoil.news) to treat epileptic seizures.

It has been used to [treat](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23008748/?ref=goodoil.news) muscle spasms among those with multiple sclerosis. It has also helped people alleviate [chronic pain](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998228/?ref=goodoil.news), headaches and anxiety.

If cannabis is legalised for recreational use, those using it for medical purposes will have [greater access](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/cannabis-referendum/122247529/cannabis-referendum-how-legalisation-could-change-access-for-medicinal-cannabis-patients?ref=goodoil.news) at a more affordable price.

**4\. Regulated for consumer safety**

A standard requirement for legalised cannabis markets includes [product testing](https://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation?ref=goodoil.news), which means consumers know more about the products they are using.

Cannabis bought off the street can contain fungus, harmful substances, mould and pesticides. Mandatory testing ensures the cannabis is free of [toxins](https://sfist.com/2017/08/31/80%5Fpercent%5Fof%5Fmedical%5Fmarijuana%5Ftes/?ref=goodoil.news).

To protect children in the United States from exposure to cannabis, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington all passed [child-resistant packaging](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2534480?ref=goodoil.news) regulations.

Under New Zealand’s referendum, any retailers who sell cannabis to people aged under 20 would face serious penalties. To further deter youth, the NZ Drug Foundation, which is leading a yes vote, unequivocally supports the referendum’s inclusion of advertising bans.

**5\. Takes money away from street gangs**

Over the past two-and-half years, street gangs in New Zealand have grown by more than [30%](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/415956/gang-numbers-on-the-rise-but-a-slight-drop-in-gang-crime-comes-with-a-warning?ref=goodoil.news). The illegal cannabis market, estimated to be worth [NZ$1–3 billion](https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/matters-of-substance/may-2008/pot-black-market-forces/?ref=goodoil.news), potentially funds these gangs to some extent.

In Colorado in the US, [90%](http://www.agfseries2.com/%5Fliterature%5F144032/The%5FEconomic%5FImpact%5Fof%5FMarijuana%5FLegalization%5Fin%5FColorado?ref=goodoil.news) of the cannabis market is supplied under regulation. Over the past decade there, cannabis seizures by border control are at their lowest levels and their value has reduced by [millions of dollars](https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USBP%20Stats%20FY2015%20sector%20profile.pdf?ref=goodoil.news).

Legalising cannabis places control of the market in the hands of the government rather then criminals.

#### Cons: social and fiscal

**1\. Unknown costs for society and taxpayers**

The long-term health effects are not fully understood. Similar to tobacco, the negative health consequences of cannabis might not be realised for decades. Again, in Colorado, for every cannabis tax dollar raised, its citizens spend [US$4.50](http://www.ccu.edu/centennial/policy-briefs/marijuana-costs/?ref=goodoil.news) to offset the negative effects of legalisation.

**2\. It will turn NZ’s youth to other drugs**

A Christchurch Health and Development [study](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01322.x?ref=goodoil.news) shows adolescent weekly users of cannabis were 100 times more likely to use other illicit drugs.

Concerns have been raised about the level of [influence](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cannabis-industrys-lobbying-on-track-to-hit-a-new-record-2019-07-25?ref=goodoil.news) the cannabis industry has over the drafting of legislation since its motivation is profit maximisation, [not public health](https://saynopetodope.org.nz/2019/03/12/its-changed-my-home-us-anti-cannabis-lobbyists-warning-to-nz/?ref=goodoil.news).

**3\. Workplace safety and productivity**

A 25-year [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3739012/?ref=goodoil.news) in Norway shows workers who use cannabis are less dedicated to their work than those who don’t.

In the US, [cannabis use by employees](https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/fall2019/pages/marijuana-and-the-workplace-its-complicated.aspx?ref=goodoil.news) leads to increases in absenteeism, accidents, job turnover and worker compensation claims.

**4\. Bad for the environment**

Cannabis plants require [double](https://marijuana.procon.org/?ref=goodoil.news) the water needed to grow grapes for wine. Growing cannabis may cause deforestation, habitat destruction, river diversion and soil erosion.

When grown hydroponically, yearly greenhouse gas emissions in the US equal that of [3 million](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/27/marijuana-industry-huge-energy-footprint?ref=goodoil.news) cars.

**5\. Property prices could rise, or fall**

Once again in Colorado in the US, legalising cannabis was [found](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ecin.12556?ref=goodoil.news) to increase the value of property prices by up to 6%.

A separate [study](https://www.cato.org/publications/research-briefs-economic-policy/contact-high-external-effects-retail-marijuana?ref=goodoil.news) in Colorado found house prices could increase by up to 8.4% if they were within 160m of a retail outlet selling cannabis.

But [42%](https://www.zoocasa.com/blog/cannabis-report-2018/?ref=goodoil.news) of Canadians believe a cannabis retailer will negatively affect their home values.

The median housing market price in NZ recently rose by [12%](https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/01/housing-market-heating-up-what-can-we-expect.html?ref=goodoil.news) in one year. Further sharp growth could price [many](https://theconversation.com/higher-property-prices-linked-to-income-inequality-study-68664?ref=goodoil.news) out of the market.

#### Still undecided?

There are just over two weeks to go now before New Zealanders vote on the [cannabis referendum](https://www.referendums.govt.nz/cannabis/index.html?ref=goodoil.news). If you still can’t decide, then head to the Prime Minister’s Science Adviser [website](https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/cannabis/?ref=goodoil.news) for more information, or watch the video below.

[Patrick van Esch](https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-van-esch-796936?ref=goodoil.news), Senior Lecturer in Marketing, AUT Business School, *[Auckland University of Technology](https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137?ref=goodoil.news)*; [Michelle O’Shea](https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-oshea-457947?ref=goodoil.news), Senior Lecturer Management, *[Western Sydney University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092?ref=goodoil.news)*, and [Sarah Duffy](https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-duffy-233703?ref=goodoil.news), Lecturer, School of Business, *[Western Sydney University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092?ref=goodoil.news)*

This article is republished from [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/?ref=goodoil.news) under a Creative Commons license. Read the [original article](https://theconversation.com/undecided-on-the-cannabis-referendum-10-pros-and-cons-of-legalising-the-drug-146399?ref=goodoil.news).

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