Drug Law Reform campaign

Date: April 2019 - October 2020

In 2020 New Zealand held a referendum on Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. This brought to the forefront a long overdue public conversation about drugs, and shone a light on the stigma and shame that has held back progress on this issue. JustSpeak supported the campaign group Health not Handcuffs in advocating for drug use to be treated as a health and social issue, not a criminal issue. 

While the referendum is over, the problems of prohibition have not gone away. Our laws still prevent people accessing help when they need it, and they leave thousands every year with a conviction that impacts on livelihoods, mental health, relationships, travel, housing and education.

This is why we will continue to advocate for repealing and replacing the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to ensure drug use is treated as a health and social issue.

You can read our open letter and read the Workshops guide on How to Talk About Cannabis