Disjointed campaign blew it for cannabis

The downside to asking a simple yes or no referendum question is relying on people to actively seek all of the information they need tomakean educated choice they believe in.

That’s where I think it went wrong for the cannabis legalisation and control referendum.

Preliminary numbersshowmost Newzealanders did not support the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, with 53.1 per cent voting no in the referendum. Thatwas 1,281,818 people voting no, 1,114,485 people voting yes and 19,244, or 0,8 per cent, not voting or not clearly indicatinghowthey wished to vote.

The official referendum results, which will include special votes, will be released on Friday and while it is possible the results could be flipped once special votes are counted, the probability is said to be highly unlikely.

Butwhydid it not get through? Inmyview, because the campaign against the referendumwas stronger than the campaign for it. The narrative that swayed people towards ano vote, it seems, overshadowed the support.

With numerous groups and organisations encouraging ano vote and only the Green Party advocating for change, the pro campaigners didn’tseem tomakeit clear what a yes vote would actually mean. They were fighting a battle that relied on people to actively seek all the answers themselves.

All it took wasa fewclicks on the referendums.govt.nz website for a person to understand saying yes didn’t necessarilymean recreational cannabis would becomelegal straight away. Afew clicks would have revealed saying yeswas about regulating recreational cannabis use instead of having the streets packed with weed-smokers— as someof those whovoted “no” believed.

Just about everyone I knowwho voted against the cannabis change did not do research or learn what the referendum wastruly asking them. Most of those I knowwho voted yes, did read up.

I’ve heard people say that had Jacinda Ardern revealed her intention to vote yes, the outcome could have been different. That, based on the support she has, people might have followed her lead. If that were the case, how would that be a fair vote?

Whatshe did, in keeping her vote to herself until after election day, was right.

Friday will reveal the final result but at the end of the day, thosewho want to use cannabis recreationally can and will do so. Where they’ll buy it will remain a problem, without rules around what itmayormay not be laced with, and the possibility of buyers being upsold to harsher ormoredangerous drugs.

Next time, if the conversation is had again, pro-campaigners need to do more.