Press Release
Stephen Berry

It’s About Time Act Became a Party of Freedom

Tamaki Independent candidate Stephen Berry praises Don Brash for his newly declared advocacy of cannabis decriminalisation. “It is about time the alleged party of individual freedom did more than prop up a conservative, anti-freedom Government.”

Stephen Berry is the only electorate candidate in Tamaki with a consistent platform of liberty and individual sovereignty. “My position has been very clear from the start of this campaign. The individual is the rightful owner of their own life and has the right to live it as they see fit on the condition they do not initiate force or fraud against others. Individual adults should be free to trade and consume whatever drug they wish, whether it be alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy or anti-depressants as long as they take responsibility for their actions, do not expect to be bailed out by the state for their mistakes and do not violate the right of others to live their lives drug free.”

Berry believes it is great that the Act party’s libertarian wing seems to be shedding itself of the conservative but still wonders just how committed Act really is to individual freedom. “We have heard Brash talk about the decriminalisation of marijuana, which is commendable, but the devil really is in the details. At this stage Brash has not defined what he means by decriminalise. He has not illustrated what regulations may be applied, whether it will be taxed or if he simply supports making cannabis use an offence people receive an infringement notice for.”

The Tamaki candidate also notes that Brash has limited his comments to cannabis only. “If Brash advocates the decriminalisation of cannabis only, he is being naive. It is simple logic that if the prohibition of alcohol and cannabis is unaffordable, uneconomic, violates individual liberty and enriches criminals then the prohibition of all other drugs must do the same.”

Stephen Berry’s policy is for the legalisation and deregulation of all substances, whether recreational or medical, for adults. The Government should have no say over what individuals put into their bodies and doctors should lose their coercive drug distribution monopoly. Naturally individuals are responsible for whatever decision they make and cannot expect others to pay for their poor judgement.

“A party vote for Act could achieve some tinkering around the edges but an electorate vote for Stephen Berry in Tamaki is the only guarantee of a voice for freedom in the next Parliament!”

Ends

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