UnitedFuture’s approach to drug policy is to concentrate on the drugs that cause most harm to New Zealand communities. We believe that drug policy should be based on expert medical evidence and social sector advice rather than knee-jerk media hysteria. It is often overlooked, but it must be remembered that the two most harmful substances in New Zealand are alcohol and tobacco.
Drugs and Health
It is UnitedFuture policy to:
- Maintain the current legal status of cannabis (including medicinal cannabis) until there is robust evidence to show that any benefits obtained through cannabis use outweigh the harm to an individual’s health (noting that it is up to the applicants - i.e. drug companies - rather than the government to initiate testing of cannabis for medicinal purposes);
- Continue to support the full implementation of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013, which regulates the sale, manufacture, and importation of New Psychoactive Substances or drugs commonly referred to as ‘legal highs’;
- Maintain funding for drug treatment programmes, and ensure that residential treatment centres are available and properly funded in each region;
- Review the use and availability of methadone with the intention of reducing methadone reliance;
- Place greater emphasis on increased funding and co-ordination between alcohol and drug services and mental health services to ensure appropriate, accurate assessment with correctly directed treatment.
Drugs and Education
It is UnitedFuture policy to:
- Support public education campaigns that highlight the negative health effects of smoking, alcohol and substance abuse;
- Work with schools to ensure they remain drug-free by promoting treatment options in conjunction with punishment for drug offences;
- Encourage schools to implement anti-drug policy programmes in consultation with the police and other agencies such as DARE and Life Education Trust.
Drugs and the Law
It is UnitedFuture policy to:
- Focus resources to deal with the most socially harmful drugs as identified through scientific research and the assessments of justice, education and health experts;
- Regularly review the classification of drugs to ensure they accurately reflect their health, behavioural and social effects;
- Provide drug offenders with treatment options, through initiatives such as the trial Drug and Alcohol Courts;
- Raise penalties for drug dealers who supply to people under the age of 18;
- Raise penalties for receiving income from the proceeds of drugs;
- Require prisoners to undergo full toxicology testing on admission to prison to establish the level of drug use and provide them with a clean start through targeted detection, deterrence, treatment and education programmes;
- Focus on the elimination of drug use within all prisons and youth correction facilities, and ensure treatment options are available;
- Ensure that re-integration and parole services for inmates who have previously tested positive for the use of drugs include mandatory drug-testing and drug treatment options;
- Ensure that Customs are sufficiently funded to stop the importation of drugs;
- Increase police resources to prevent underage alcohol sales and introduce stronger penalties for supply alcohol to minors.