Coalition calls for health-based approach to drug use in open letter to Govt
11 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
The referendum to legalise recreational cannabis was narrowly lost. Photo / Bevan Conley
Audrey Young is political editor for the New Zealand Heraldaudrey.young@nzherald.co.nz@audreyNZH
More than 25 health and social service organisations have banded together to call on the Government to repeal the country's drug laws, to drop penalties for use and to treat the use of drugs as a health issue.
The groups, including the New Zealand Medical Association, the Mental Health Foundation, the Public Health Association, the Maori Law Society, the Drug Foundation, Hapai te Hauora, and JustSpeak, have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Health Minister Andrew Little and Justice Minister Kris Faafoi.