Fri 30 October 2020:
New Zealanders have voted to legalise euthanasia for those with a terminal illness, in a victory for campaigners who say people suffering extreme pain should be given a choice over how and when to bring their life to a close.
The decision on whether to legalise euthanasia appeared as a referendum question on the 17 October general election ballot paper, alongside a second referendum question on whether to legalise cannabis – which did not succeed, according to preliminary results.
Nearly half a million votes have yet to be counted and the final results will be released on November 6.
The “yes” vote means New Zealand joins a small group of nations and territories including the Netherlands and Canada that have legalised euthanasia. The government has to ensure the legislation is implemented by October 2021.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was re-elected in a landslide, backed the bill and also the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.
Ardern recently said she had used cannabis “ a very long time ago”.
Former Labour prime minister, Helen Clark, said cannabis prohibition “doesn’t work” and should be abandoned, a position echoed by many leading public health professionals.
Cannabis is New Zealand’s most commonly used illicit drug, and the latest New Zealand Health Survey found that 15%, or 590,000 New Zealand adults used cannabis in the past 12 months.
Victoria University criminologist Fiona Hutton has worked in harm reduction with cannabis users and said the no vote meant New Zealand’s “most vulnerable and marginalised people will continue to suffer”.
“I am quite devastated, to be honest, very very sad,” said Hutton.
“People voted no to protect young people and the mentally ill. None of that will happen. All the harms from decriminalisation will carry on unabated.”
Māori account for 16% of New Zealand’s population and are shown to be disproportionately affected by New Zealand’s drug laws, facing three times as many arrests and prosecutions for possession of cannabis than non-Māori.
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