Mean green

New Zealand has a clean green image and as Kiwis we love our green and it shows. According to the 2011 world drug report between 13.4% and 15.7% of New Zealander’s aged between 16 and 64 use Cannabis. This figure, though seemingly small, is still large enough to force New Zealand’s Government and Police force to spend upwards of $120,000,000 per annum and the equivalent of 160 full time police officers to enforce marijuana prohibition.

The money spent by the government and New Zealand Police force man hours spent could be saved by legalising and decriminalisation of marijuana and would be better used on education, prevention of drug addiction and substance abuse like alcohol and methamphetamines which are problems in New Zealand. If legalised the benefits would be far reaching .The New Zealand justice system could  use their valuable man hours on stopping killers and reducing serious crime.