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WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealanders will decide whether to legalize cannabis for recreational use in a referendum held during the 2020 general election, the country’s justice minister said on Tuesday.
he referendum was among the promises made by Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party in a 2017 agreement that led to a coalition government with the Green and NZ First parties.
The coalition of populist, centrist and leftist parties ended the nine-year rule of the conservative National Party.
“The Cabinet decision is that it (the referendum) will be held at the 2020 general election, the agreement is that it will be binding,” Justice Minister Andrew Little told reporters.
A “yes” vote would make New Zealand the first Asia Pacific country to allow recreational use of marijuana in a region where it is widely prohibited.
Canada, European nations such as the Netherlands and Spain, and certain U.S. states have already legalized recreational use.
he referendum was among the promises made by Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party in a 2017 agreement that led to a coalition government with the Green and NZ First parties.
The coalition of populist, centrist and leftist parties ended the nine-year rule of the conservative National Party.
“The Cabinet decision is that it (the referendum) will be held at the 2020 general election, the agreement is that it will be binding,” Justice Minister Andrew Little told reporters.
A “yes” vote would make New Zealand the first Asia Pacific country to allow recreational use of marijuana in a region where it is widely prohibited.
Canada, European nations such as the Netherlands and Spain, and certain U.S. states have already legalized recreational use.