‘No’ vote for cannabis legalisation shrinks to 50.7 percent after final votes

The cannabis referendum result has narrowed significantly
under special votes, but the ‘no’ vote has still
prevailed.

After the special votes were counted, a
total of 50.7 percent voted against cannabis law reform,
while 48.4 percent were in favour of new
legislation.

Just 67,662 votes separated the
votes.

The End of Life Choice Act gained 65.2 percent
support on election day, and after today’s results has
barely dropped to 65.1 percent.

Final results are now
available, after about 500,000 special votes, from about 17
percent of voters, were counted.

Preliminary results
on election night were 53
percent against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill,
while 46 percent voted for legalisation of the
drug.

Drug Foundation chairperson Tuari Potiki
said although the majority of people had probably voted
against the legalisation of cannabis, the government could
still decriminalise the…