The Bill

The Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill sets out the rules for cannabis if a majority of New Zealanders vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum in October.

Voting ‘Yes’ in the referendum means the use of cannabis will become legal for adults and will be strongly regulated to improve public health outcomes. Some examples are:

• Cannabis will only be available to adults aged 20 years or older; It will not be sold to teenagers.
• Only specialist stores licenced by the government will be able to sell cannabis.
• The tax collected from the sale of cannabis will be put towards health and education programmes for all New Zealanders.
• The potency of cannabis will be limited.
• Cannabis use will be allowed in private homes and specifically licensed premises; it cannot be used in public.
  
• No advertising for cannabis products will be allowed, and consumer and health warnings will be required.

Want to know more? 

• Read more about why we’re voting ‘Yes’
  
• Read our FAQs
• Check out the information on the Government’s referendum webpage