The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show New Zealand is still arresting, charging and convicting thousands of people every year for drug-related offences. Many of these are low-level offences.
Criminalising drug use does not work. The Drug Foundation thinks New Zealand can do much better. We need to start treating drug use as a health issue, not a criminal one. This will not only save money in the justice and prison system - it will allow those who are struggling with their drug use to get the help they need.
Most Māori have seen the human cost of our bad drug law first-hand and it’s a sad truth that the people most harmed by prohibition are Māori, young and male. Read More
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The response has been undermined by “war on drugs” policies that have fuelled marginalisation and stigma .
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