New Zealand to hold cannabis referendum in 2020

December 19, 2018 00:04

New Zealanders will vote on legalising recreational cannabis in a referendum during the 2020 general election, the country's justice minister said.

A vote was promised by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party last year during cross-party talks, which helped to form a coalition government.

It comes a week after lawmakers gave medicinal cannabis the green light.

An opinion poll last year suggested two thirds of New Zealanders favoured legalisation.

Until now, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had avoided committing to a non-binding agreement.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in New Zealand, according to the NZ Drug Foundation.

A vote in favour of legalisation would make New Zealand the first Asia Pacific country to allow its recreational use.

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