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The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) says it has no position on the cannabis referendum, after being criticized by its members for opposing legalization.
The association’s president, Dr. Kate Baddock, apologized to doctors who felt their opinions were not being heard and said that everyone was free to make their own decisions in a letter published in NZ Doctor.
It came after several doctors spoke in support of proposals to legalize the recreational use of cannabis, with a wide range of opinions from members of the association.
But the NZMA has said it has opposed legalization since 2012, as cannabis causes a variety of health and social harms.
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Instead, the association calls for initiatives to reduce social inequalities that increase the risk of harm from drug use and for significant investment in education and treatment programs.
James Ireland / Stuff
New Zealanders will vote in October in the cannabis legalization and control referendum.
“Each member, however, has the absolute right to vote on the cannabis legalization and control referendum. The NZMA will have no position on the referendum itself,” Baddock wrote.
The association represents the collective interests of all physicians.
New Zealand will be asked to decide whether recreational use of cannabis should be legal on Saturday. Unlike the referendum on euthanasia, the results will not be binding.
This means that voters will answer yes or no to whether they agree with the Cannabis Control and Legalization Bill that sets out rules for growing, selling, buying and consuming cannabis.
It has divided public opinion, but a poll placed supporters of legalization marginally ahead of those against it.
If the majority of the people vote yes in the referendum, then the bill would go through the full legislative process.
It would limit cannabis use to licensed private and local homes, include conditions for personal cultivation, a minimum purchase age of 20, requirements for public health messages, supply chain licensing, and marketing and advertising restriction.
General Practice New Zealand President Jeff Lowe said the association would become more involved with its members on the issue if the bill passes through parliament.
“If there is a bill on the table … they will go back to their members and involve them in consultations,” he said.
“That obviously hasn’t happened with this because they are not voting on a bill.”
Larry Jordan, a Whitby GP who is the Tū Ora Compass health president, said there were a variety of views in the association’s membership.
