Students Vote To Support Cannabis Law Reform

Students Vote Unanimously To Support Cannabis Law Reform

The Coalition for Cannabis Law Reform (CCLR) is proud to announce that the New Zealand University Students Association have formally endorsed the coalition, and its cannabis law reform and education accord.

Speaking at the New Zealand University Students Association (NZUSA) annual conference in Dunedin today, Nandor Tanczos encouraged student representatives to support the cannabis law reform campaign and issued a challenge to all New Zealanders, including the National party.

"We know this law is failing, we know it is letting down our young people, criminalising tens of thousands of otherwise good citizens and wasting millions and millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of police hours every year. The question is, if anything at all, what are you going to do about it?" asked Mr Tanczos.

Student representatives responded overwhelmingly to Mr Tanczos's challenge, voting unanimously for the NZUSA to support the Coalition for Cannabis Law Reform and its accord and objectives which include reducing the use of cannabis by those under 18 and allowing adults to legally grow and possess cannabis.

The Coalition has welcomed the NZUSA support and is pleased to see that young people and students are involving themselves in the cannabis debate. "This issue is no longer the domain of the fringe element. Everyday New Zealanders, young and old are considering the issues and can see quite clearly for themselves that the current approach is both counter productive and a complete failure" said Les Gray, educational psychologist and CCLR spokesperson.

"By supporting the cannabis law reform campaign and endorsing the coalition and its objectives, the NZUSA is taking a rational and politically safe stance on this important issue. Rather than deny that there is a problem with the current approach to cannabis in New Zealand, the NZUSA, along with a host of other representative organisations have stood up and acknowledged that the current prohibition approach has failed to achieve its stated goals and that a change is needed " added Mr Gray.

ENDS

Contact: Les Gray - CCLR Spokesperson - 021 436234

Tanja Schutz - NZUSA Co president - 025 868677

Nandor Tanczos - Green MP - 025 2465235