Draft details on a proposal to legalise and regulate a market for recreational cannabis, officially released today, will be followed by a referendum in the 2020 election.
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Andrew Little said the referendum will ask voters whether or not they endorse the draft law, which includes a minimum use and purchasing age of 20.
It will then fall to the next elected government to pass the legislation, according to Newsroom.
“We know the medical science says that the human brain is still developing up to the age of 25, but if you put too high of an age on it, you just encourage the black market,” Minister Little told 1 News.
It also proposes to limit the potency of products, and having a licensing regime to control all stages of the supply chain and all available products – including edibles and resins, the NZ Herald reported.
“Permitting use at specifically licensed premises recognises that some people, such as tenants and people with children at home, cannot or may not wish to use cannabis at home,” the paper says.
The Green Party won the referendum during coalition negotiations, according to Stuff.
The announcement was covered by local media, including:
NZ Herald: Special cafes and approved retail outlets proposed for legal cannabis market
Stuff: Cannabis referendum: A simple yes or no question on reform at 2020 General Election
Newshub: Government reveals details of cannabis referendum
1 News: Details of 2020 cannabis referendum released, including proposed purchase age
Newsroom: Draft law will legalise cannabis for over 20s
RNZ: Cannabis referendum to be a yes/no question, govt confirms
Newstalk ZB: Government reveals details of cannabis referendum