New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalizing the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in 2020 as part of the general election, New Zealand's justice minister, Andrew Little, said on Tuesday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th December, 2018) New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalizing the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in 2020 as part of the general election, New Zealand's justice minister, Andrew Little, said on Tuesday.
On December 11, the country's parliament passed a bill authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes for chronically and terminally ill people. Cannabis-based drugs will be available by prescription, and the law will come into force as soon as it is granted royal assent.
"It [the referendum on cannabis decriminalization] will be held at the 2020 general election. The agreement is that it will be binding. There is a bit of detail to still to work through," Little was quoted as saying by the Stuff news portal.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges, in turn, believes, that the authorities may be trying to divert public attention from the general election itself.
