Have your say

Why be involved and who should be involved

It has been 35 years since the enactment of the Misuse of Drugs Act. It was first developed at a time when our understanding of good drug policy was in its infancy and patterns of drug use were very different from today.  The Law Commission says of the Act that it “no longer provides a coherent and effective legislative framework for responding to the misuse of psychoactive drugs… The Act is now outdated and does not reflect current knowledge and understanding about drug use and related health, social and economic harms.”

This is an important, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get informed and make your mark on the future direction of New Zealand’s drug law.

The review is open to anyone and everyone. We encourage you to read the issues paper and/or summary document to express opinions about some of the key and serious issues in the Act.

How to get involved

Write a submission
Submissions are a powerful and effective way to have your voice heard.

A submission is the presentation of your views or opinions to the Law Commission on matters under consideration in the review. By writing a submission, you are providing the Law Commission with your own insights, observations and opinions. Your submission will contribute towards shaping the Law Commission’s final recommendations to Parliament.

However it is essential to be informed. You need to know your issue. Research it to develop your recommendations you believe should be taken. This will help give validity to your submission. Submissions need to be clear, ordered to the point, factual and constructive.

You should read the issues paper or at least the summary, know what’s in it and what it’s about. You can access a copy here.

Submissions are open to anyone and everyone. Young people, retired people, experts, people who use drugs, concerned others, parents, communities, schools, organisations, academics and more all have a chance to be heard. All public submissions to the Law Commission are given equal respect.

Submissions can be written or submitted online via email through the ‘submission filed’ link on the TalkDrugs page. No oral submissions are accepted during this process.

Send in a written submission to:

Drugs Review Project Coordinator
Drugs Review Submissions
Law Commission
PO Box 2590
Wellington 6140

Your submission does not have to cover everything in the issues paper. You can focus on a particular aspect or aspects, or make a general statement. However make sure it stays within the realms of the issues paper. The content needs to be easy to understand, however does not need to be lengthy nor academic.

There is no provided submission form however we recommend using the questions outlined in the summary report for guidance.

Visit the online consultation website
The Law Commission has created an online consultation website: www.talklaw.co.nz to generate wider public discussion on the issues. The website is a useful resource to help stimulate debate that can contribute to a considered submission. Users can take part in forum discussions, participate in online surveys and send in an online submission. This may suit users who wish to participate in the debate but remain anonymous.

Talk to the Law Commission
The Law Commission is keen to meet interested individuals and groups during the consultation period. Anyone who works in the area or has strong views on these matters is welcome to get in touch. Contact the Law Commission for more information at: drugsreview@lawcom.govt.nz.  

Spread the word and keep informed
Many of us are impacted by drug harm in some way, so each of us should get involved in this review.  Use every opportunity, whether at work or with friends, to discuss the review.

We have dedicated a section on our website to the Review of the Act, Getting the MODA running: www.drugfoundation.org.nz/moda.  

Keep updated with the media and blogs (we have a running list on our website): www.drugfoundation.org.nz/moda/media-coverage.  

Our latest Matters of Substance magazine provides some interesting and useful reading around drug laws. Email us to get your free copy.

Visit our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/nzdrugfoundation) for a range of videos on drug policy and law reform, especially from our 2009 International Drug Policy Symposium.

Important dates

Submissions close 30 April 2010.

What happens next

After 30 April 2010, the Law Commission will consider the views outlined in the submissions and any further research that has come to hand before developing final recommendations for the Government about how New Zealand’s drugs laws could be improved. These recommendations will be discussed in the final report which will be presented to Government to consider later this year. The Government will then decide what to do with the Commission’s recommendations.