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The cannabis legalization and control referendum would narrowly pass if the vote took place today, in a new poll that will give supporters cause for hope.
The survey, conducted by market research firm UMR and funded by the Helen Clark Foundation, found that 49 percent of respondents supported the Cannabis Control and Legalization Bill, while 45 percent opposed.
Clark, a former prime minister and advocate for cannabis reform, said she was confident.
“A poll like this reminds us of what people are really voting for,” he said. They are not asked ‘should cannabis be available in New Zealand?’ It is very available. All the problem is the terms is available. “
Polls have presented a mixed picture, and the momentum recently appears to be running against legalization. The latest One News / Colmar Brunton poll put opponents 18 points ahead.
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Four percent of those surveyed said they were undecided, while another 2 percent did not plan to vote.
Maori (66 percent), voters ages 18-29 (62 percent), and Labor Party supporters (62 percent) were among the demographic groups most likely to support the bill.
National supporters (26%) and voters over 60 (33%) were the most opposed.
The survey polled 1,129 New Zealanders over the age of 18 and has a 2.9 percent margin of error.
BRADEN FASTIER / things
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was confident in the chances of legalization.
The most recent UMR survey, in July, showed that support for the proposed Cannabis Control and Legalization Bill led with 48% to 43%.
Clark said she felt confident heading into the referendum.
“Looking at it, I think there is everything to play for,” Clark said.
Clark said she was frustrated by some misleading ads made by opponents of the reform.
A paid-for Say Nope To Dope campaign that featured a Featherston dairy as a cannabis store received 31 complaints last month, though it was approved by the Advertising Standards Authority.
Under the proposed bill, all forms of cannabis advertising would be banned. Retailers can only display signs that they sell cannabis inside their store.
“The bill before us has a lot more controls than tobacco and alcohol,” Clark said.
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The latest UMR poll shows that support for cannabis legalization holds a small lead.
“That doesn’t stop people who are just against it from making absurd claims about the stores on every corner. I think what we can say with absolute confidence is that there will be fewer licensed outlets than small houses at this time. “
“People who vote No are voting to keep distribution largely in the hands of organized crime.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted to smoking cannabis “a long time ago” during the Newshub leaders’ debate last week.
Ardern has a long-standing policy of not saying how he will vote in the referendum.
Clark wouldn’t say which side he thought Ardern supported.
“When asked if he had used it, he said yes. In a way, that’s an indication that she doesn’t consider it taboo. She won’t say more than that, but I think she says enough, ”Clark said.
