We are sharing with you a very useful brief statement issued yesterday by the National Church Leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand, which is a gathering of the senior leaders of most of New Zealand’s church denominations. From across that wide denominational spectrum, the undersigned church leaders speak with one voice to urge New Zealanders to vote very carefully in the two Referendums, ‘because both decisions carry the risk of inflicting serious long-term damage on our society, endangering vulnerable people, and making our country less safe for everyone’.

The statement we are sending today is about the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill (and we will send you the NCLANZ statement on euthanasia, when it is issued next week).

Through its National Director, the New Zealand Christian Network is an active participant in the National Church Leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand.

We recommend you share this statement with your family, friends, and churches.

We support the recent new provision in law (2019) for cannabis-based medicine to be available on prescription.

We also support the general move towards decriminalising cannabis users, and instead concentrating on a non-punitive health-based approach of helping those being harmed by cannabis use and addiction. We note that police are generally no longer prosecuting recreational cannabis use (and we want them to apply that discretion without any bias).

However we do not support the legalisation of recreational cannabis use, as proposed in the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. We believe legalisation would help normalise cannabis use and increase its use (as has happened overseas). Cannabis use remains addictive and dangerous for some people, especially those under 25, and can induce psychosis, depression, loss of cognitive function, lung (and other) diseases, suicidal tendencies, and foetal harm.

Legalisation, and the rise of a cannabis industry with a network of retail shops in many communities, would undermine societal messages about reducing drug use (and also undermine the campaigns against tobacco smoking, and about driving under the influence of drugs).

The evidence from overseas is that legalisation would not end the black market in cannabis. In Canada, over 70% of cannabis is still purchased on the black market). Illegal dealers including gangs would continue to sell cannabis (at lower prices, with unsafe levels of THC, and also to those under the age of 20).

We are concerned that legalising and normalising cannabis use will increase domestic violence, cannabis-related road deaths, workplace accidents, and educational failure. We are also worried that society’s socio-economically disadvantaged groups are likely to suffer most from the increased availability and use of cannabis.

We suggest that voting ‘No to the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill carries significantly fewer risks of long-term damage to New Zealand society than a ‘Yes’ vote.

We also suggest that a ‘No’ vote still leaves space for New Zealand to further decriminalise cannabis law in relation to users, while retaining penalties only in relation to producers and dealers. At the same time it could strengthen a health-based approach towards those affected by drugs, while continuing to warn society about the risks of all drug use.

SIGNED…

Bishop Jay Behan, Church of Confessing Anglicans in Aotearoa New Zealand
Pastor Steve Burgess, Regional Overseer, Senior Leader, C3 Churches
Commissioner Mark Campbell, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army
Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, Roman Catholic
Pastor Iliafi Esera, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God in New Zealand
Rev Dr Jaron Graham, National Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene
Rev Tale Hakeagaiki, Chairman, Congregational Union of New Zealand
Rev Charles Hewlett, National Leader, Baptist Churches of New Zealand
Rev Brett Jones, National Superintendent (Acting), Wesleyan Methodist Church of NZ
The Right Rev Fakaofo Kaio, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Rev Dr Stuart Lange, National Director, New Zealand Christian Network
Pastor Brent Liebezeit, President, Christian Churches New Zealand
Rev Andrew Marshall, National Director Alliance Churches of New Zealand
Pastor David MacGregor, National Director, Vineyard Churches Aotearoa NZ
Pastor Sam Monk, The National Leader of Acts Churches NZ & Equippers Church
Pastor Peter Mortlock, Senior Pastor, City Impact Churches of NZ
Assistant Bishop Jim Pietsch, Lutheran Church of New Zealand
Pastor Boyd Ratnaraja, National Leader, Elim Church of New Zealand
Pastor Eddie Tupa’i, President, New Zealand Pacific Union Conference of the SDA Church
Rev Setaita Taumoepeau K. Veikune, President, Methodist Church of New Zealand
Pastor Adam White, Leader, New Life Churches

For further contacts for this statement:
Rev Dr Richard Waugh QSM Ph 022 5339400 Email: richard.waugh@wesleyan.nz
Senior Pastor David MacGregor Ph 022 1572018 Email: david@grace.org.nz