Cannabis use poll with 2020 election

WELLINGTON: Justice Minister Andrew Little has confirmed the referendum on recreational cannabis use will be at the 2020 election and will be binding.

‘‘There is a bit of detail still to work through, but we are telling the electoral commission that’s when it’s going to be,’’ Mr Little said yesterday.

He said the question to be asked still needed to be worked out.

‘‘We know when it will be, we have a commitment that it will be binding, and now it is just a question on filling in the detail from there.’’

A referendum on recreational cannabis use on or before the 2020 election is part of the Labour and Greens confidence and supply agreement.

National Party leader Simon Bridges said the decision to hold the referendum at the same time as the election was a ‘‘cynical’’ move, and suggested it was designed to distract voters from key issues.

‘‘Pretty cynical that you’ve got a Government that wants to distract from the core issues of a general election like who’s best to govern . . . and core issues around the economy, tax, cost of living, health, education and law and order.’’

He said the Government was already decriminalising drug use by promoting police discretion in prosecuting people who are caught with drugs, which was announced last week.

‘‘Right now, if someone is smoking cannabis outside a school, what are the consequences? What’s the message from this Government?’’ Mr Bridges said.

The Government is also considering holding referendums on electoral reform and euthanasia.

Mr Bridges said he would vote against the use of recreational cannabis because of the ‘‘normalisation’’ message it sent and the impact it might have on mental health.

Asked about a binding euthanasia poll, Mr Little said it was a matter for Act New Zealand Leader David Seymour and the select committee considering the euthanasia Bill. Mr Seymour has a member’s Bill on euthanasia going through the House.

‘‘David has told me that he fully expects that there will be a referendum clause in that Bill when it gets reported back.’’

Mr Little said the coalition partners had yet to decide on an electoral reform referendum. — NZME