50 signatures reached
To: The House of Representatives via the Minister for Regulation
Time to Review NZ’s 50-Year-Old Drug Laws
We urge the House of Representatives to direct the Minister for Regulation to commission an independent, principles-based review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and its associated framework, including the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013, to assess whether these laws remain fit for purpose, proportionate, and aligned with modern regulatory standards for New Zealand.
Why is this important?
In 2025, the Misuse of Drugs Act (MoDA) turns 50.
This petition calls for an independent review under the Ministry for Regulation to assess whether New Zealand’s drug laws remain effective, fair, and fit for purpose, not driven by politics or morality, but guided by good governance.
MoDA and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 form a fragmented legal framework that shapes outcomes across health, justice, and community wellbeing. Despite major developments in drug science, public health, and international best practice, these laws have never been comprehensively reviewed.
In 2011, the Law Commission recommended replacing MoDA with a health-based Act. Those recommendations were never implemented.
This petition builds on that work, calling for a modern, evidence-informed review that reflects New Zealand’s commitment to equity, harm reduction, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
🔍 Why now?
➡️ MoDA is outdated – Drafted in the 1970s and amended in a piecemeal way, it no longer reflects modern science or social realities.
➡️ Blurred objectives – Enforcement and health goals are entangled, creating unclear and inconsistent outcomes.
➡️ Inefficiency – Enforcement-led approaches absorb significant public resources with limited impact on harm.
➡️ Disproportionate impact – Māori, Pasifika, and young people are disproportionately criminalised under current laws.
➡️ Policy momentum – New Zealand is already moving toward harm reduction. Drug checking services were legalised in 2021, and medicinal cannabis is now available. The time is right for a full review.
Are our drug laws working? Are they fair, consistent, and evidence-based?
📋 What the review should consider
An independent panel of experts in law, regulation, health, and community perspectives, with public input, should evaluate:
✅ Whether current laws reduce harm and promote public safety
✅ How well the legal framework aligns with health, justice, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles
✅ The social, financial, and operational costs of enforcement
✅ Opportunities to modernise in line with international best practice
The review should produce actionable recommendations within the Ministry for Regulation’s mandate to modernise outdated laws.
🚫 What this petition is not about
❌ Legalisation or decriminalisation of any specific substance
❌ Advocating for specific changes to health or justice policy
❌ Prescribing any predetermined outcomes
♾️ This is a neutral call for an independent, evidence-based review to ensure our drug laws are still fit for purpose.
🤝 Join the call
After 50 years, it’s time to rethink New Zealand’s drug laws.
Sign this petition for a transparent, evidence-informed review to ensure our legal framework is:
✅ Clear
✅ Proportionate
✅ Fair
✅ Grounded in evidence
✅ Aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Let’s build a fairer, modern system for Aotearoa.
This petition calls for an independent review under the Ministry for Regulation to assess whether New Zealand’s drug laws remain effective, fair, and fit for purpose, not driven by politics or morality, but guided by good governance.
MoDA and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 form a fragmented legal framework that shapes outcomes across health, justice, and community wellbeing. Despite major developments in drug science, public health, and international best practice, these laws have never been comprehensively reviewed.
In 2011, the Law Commission recommended replacing MoDA with a health-based Act. Those recommendations were never implemented.
This petition builds on that work, calling for a modern, evidence-informed review that reflects New Zealand’s commitment to equity, harm reduction, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
🔍 Why now?
➡️ MoDA is outdated – Drafted in the 1970s and amended in a piecemeal way, it no longer reflects modern science or social realities.
➡️ Blurred objectives – Enforcement and health goals are entangled, creating unclear and inconsistent outcomes.
➡️ Inefficiency – Enforcement-led approaches absorb significant public resources with limited impact on harm.
➡️ Disproportionate impact – Māori, Pasifika, and young people are disproportionately criminalised under current laws.
➡️ Policy momentum – New Zealand is already moving toward harm reduction. Drug checking services were legalised in 2021, and medicinal cannabis is now available. The time is right for a full review.
Are our drug laws working? Are they fair, consistent, and evidence-based?
📋 What the review should consider
An independent panel of experts in law, regulation, health, and community perspectives, with public input, should evaluate:
✅ Whether current laws reduce harm and promote public safety
✅ How well the legal framework aligns with health, justice, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles
✅ The social, financial, and operational costs of enforcement
✅ Opportunities to modernise in line with international best practice
The review should produce actionable recommendations within the Ministry for Regulation’s mandate to modernise outdated laws.
🚫 What this petition is not about
❌ Legalisation or decriminalisation of any specific substance
❌ Advocating for specific changes to health or justice policy
❌ Prescribing any predetermined outcomes
♾️ This is a neutral call for an independent, evidence-based review to ensure our drug laws are still fit for purpose.
🤝 Join the call
After 50 years, it’s time to rethink New Zealand’s drug laws.
Sign this petition for a transparent, evidence-informed review to ensure our legal framework is:
✅ Clear
✅ Proportionate
✅ Fair
✅ Grounded in evidence
✅ Aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Let’s build a fairer, modern system for Aotearoa.