"In late August 2013 almost 100 people representing over 50 organisations gathered in Wellington help reshape New Zealand's alcohol and other drug policy. ... We trust that the Government and any other organisation with an interest in an Aotearoa New Zealand free from drug harm, will accept it in the spirit it was created, and us all to make it a reality."
In 2011 following a two year review of NZ Drug Law the NZ Law Commission produced 144 diverse and wide ranging recommendations.
As far as I'm aware only two of the 144 recommendations have been implemented. Here's the report:
http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/project/review-misuse-drugs-act-1975
Following a two day (invite only) National Summit on Drug Policy led by New Zealand Drug Foundation they have added to this with a further 144 recommendations and produced a staggering 227 vision statements in the form of a 12,000 word declaration.
The vastness of the recommendations and broad range of statements mean that like the Law Commission Report, the document has somethink to appeal for everyone - so we are left with a 'take your pick' policy that can be what you want it to be. Drug Policy has an excellent record for inertia that stretches back 50 years. Rather than endless ideas and possibilities NZ needed to prioritise some much needed drug policy change to allow:
1. Prescibing injectable drugs
2. Providing naloxone take home (gets no mention in the 12k word document)
3. Allowing raw cannabis possession for people with life-limiting illnesses
4. Making it legal to possess injecting equipment regardless of where it is from.
5. Stepping down not stepping up Police activity on cannabis cultivation.
6. Removing the offence of possession for unapproved legal highs and drugs listed in the MDA 1975
7. Abondoning drug testing and punishment for people on benefit
8. Reducing the 6% of police prosecution that relate to drug defined crimes and the 11% of prisoners who are serving time for drug defined crime.
9. Ending the charge of manslaughter for assisting someone to use drugs who subsequently dies of an overdose.
The weblink page to download the National Strategy document encourages organisations to work together with the New Zealand Drug Foundation to create an 'Aotearoa NZ Free from Drug Harm' a clever play on words which will appeal to abstentionists who will see the only way for NZ to be Free from drug harm is to work towards an 'Aotearoa Free from Drugs' - and with a big investment in Drug Abstinence Courts and Drug Testing people for employment sadly abstinence is becoming the dominant approach in NZ.
The focus and energy should be redirected towards an 'Aotearoa NZ Free from Drug Policy Harm".