Final results of the 2020 elections: Special votes close the gap; Cannabis referendum still fails

The final results of today’s 2020 elections have dealt a severe blow to New Zealanders hoping to legalize cannabis for personal use.

However, the gap between those who voted for and against the cannabis reform narrowed by 2.4 percentage points after the recount and the addition of special votes.

Of the total 2,908,071 votes received, 48.4% supported the proposed legislation and the cannabis control bill, and 50.7% opposed.

Preliminary results of the referendum showed that 46.1% voted in favor of legalized cannabis, compared to 53.1% against.

It comes when the final results also show that National has lost two seats, Labor has won one and the Maori party has returned with two seats.

The incoming government will continue to seek to improve the current health-based approach to drug law reform.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that some of the issues that legalization sought to address, including the referral of cannabis users to health services rather than the justice system, will be discussed regardless of the referendum outcome.

New Zealand Drug Foundation President Tuari Potiki says the close result shows that the drug law should not be ruled out, but acknowledges that the cannabis legislation and control bill is unlikely to be presented in its current form.

“The close result shows an unprecedented level of support for change in some form. Doing nothing is not an option for the government,” Potiki said.

“The issues that make reform essential have not simply disappeared now that the votes are cast.

“The government needs to find out what the key concerns of New Zealanders were in voting no, and come back with a bill that will address the issues we all agree on.”

SayNoToDope campaign spokesman Aaron Ironside says New Zealand has dodged a bullet by rejecting the legalization of cannabis.

Ironside says the mental health system is strained and the legalization of the drug would have added to social damage.

“Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of a number of adverse outcomes including educational delay, dependency on social work, increased risk of psychotic symptoms, major depression, increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, increased risk of other drug use illicit and respiratory disability, “Ironside said.

“In the US states that have already legalized the drug, these states have seen a black market that continues to thrive and sustained rates of marijuana arrests.”

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick, who consolidated her post today, says the Greens always knew the results would be close and were proud to have carried out “an evidence-based campaign for a harm reduction approach.”

“Despite the outcome, we are very pleased to have started a conversation about the need for fit-for-purpose drug laws in New Zealand,” Swarbrick said.

“As a country, we have come so far in understanding the need to reduce the harm of drugs by taking them out of the shadows, and I remain committed to working towards a drug harm reduction approach in the future.”

The Drug Foundation favors a government response that keeps cannabis legislation on the table in some form.

Meanwhile, the final result of the referendum to support the end-of-life election bill is 65.1% (0.1% less).

The final results, which include 504,625 special votes, or 17 percent of the total, will not change the parliamentary majority held by the Labor Party or the Labor-Green cooperation agreement that has already been signed.

But they determine the number of deputies of each party in Parliament.

The provisional results from three weeks ago were: Labor at 49.1 percent (64 seats), National at 26.8 percent (35 seats), Law at 8 percent (10 seats), Los Verdes at the 7.6 percent (10 seats), and the Maori Party with the Waiariki headquarters.

Final results show Labor at 50 per cent (65 seats), Nationals at 25.6 per cent (33 seats), Law at 7.6 per cent (10 seats), Greens at 7 , 9 percent (10 seats) and the Maori party with 1.2 percent (two seats).