Has NZ’s drug law passed its use by date?

Has NZ’s drug law passed its use by date? A conviction is for life Show me the money! Stigma really hurts The cost of convicting young people Unequal treatment before the law Māori MPs reconsider drug law Longer course on alcohol and other drugs Early days for UNGASS 2016 declaration Guest editorial: Treatment as prevention? How about prevention as prevention?! Viewpoints: Is the jury still out on e-cigarettes? Opinion: A nation in denial? Q&A: Nobody suffers like the families About a drug: powdered alcohol Mythbusters: Yeast spreads can be used for brewing alcohol

Cartoon of modern teenager watching Breaking Bad, with drug paraphernalia

A lot can happen in 40 years. The changes we’ve witnessed in Kiwi society are profound. As the spot the difference images below show, this extends to the place of drugs in daily life. Yet the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975) is essentially the same as the day it was passed. Some of the costs of the legislation not keeping up are shared in this special anniversary feature.

PART 1: A conviction is for life
PART 2: Show me the money!
PART 3: Stigma really hurts
PART 4: The cost of convicting young people
PART 5: Unequal treatment before the law

This special anniversary report was prepared by Andrew Zielinski, Cameron Price, Nathan Frost and Stephen Blyth.

Lots has changed in the last 40 years. Our drug law hasn't.