Heavy fines feature of proposed cannabis Bill

ROTORUA: A cap on the amount of cannabis that can be grown and heavy fines, including jail time, for unlawful sale or supply are key features of the proposed framework for legalising cannabis for personal use.

Justice Minister Andrew Little yesterday released the latest version of the Cannabis Legislation and Control Bill, which sets out what a legal market for personal use would look like.

Voters will decide whether to legalise cannabis for personal use in a referendum planned alongside the September 19 election which will ask voters to support or oppose the Bill.

Many details of the proposed framework have already been released, but yesterday’s release includes details such as proposed taxes and punishments.

The cap on national production would be set by a new national cannabis authority with a view to reduce overall consumption and draw users away from the black market.

To counter corporate monopolies, one producing business would not be able to contribute more than 20% of the national supply.

People with cannabis convictions for personal use would not be automatically disqualified from getting a licence to produce cannabis.

The authority, advised by an independent expert committee, would also set prices and the limit on THC potency.

Legal cannabis would also be introduced in stages, firstly with dried or fresh cannabis and cannabis seed, and products such as edibles would be considered later.

The fines or jail time would aim to cripple gangs or even encourage them to turn their illegal trade into a legal one.

A $100,000 fine could be imposed on a business or two years’ jail for an individual for unlawful cannabis sales, or the offer of such sales.

This increases to a $150,000 fine for a business or four years’ jail for an individual for underage sales.

Personal use fines are much smaller: a $200 to $500 fine for buying or possessing too much, or for smoking a joint in public, and $100 to $200 fine for underage possession.

Blowing joint smoke into an underage person’s face could bring a fine of between $500 and $1000.

also, a legal cannabis industry would be hit with excise tax, GST and levies ringfenced for drug treatment and education programmes — although the level of the tax or levies have not been specified. — The New Zealand Herald