The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party are calling on the police to declare an armistice in their 40-year War against Cannabis.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, lead by world leaders including Kofi Annan, found that the War on Drugs has failed to achieve any of its objectives.

Drug use and availability continues to increase while the New Zealand tax-payer wastes $400 million* each year just to enforce Cannabis prohibition.

ALCP Leader Julian Crawford said trying to reduce competition while making Cannabis more profitable on the black-market was only encouraging organised crime, while hurting New Zealand's real economy.

"A far more effective way to undermine the black-market would be to regulate and tax the Cannabis trade," he said.

"Many innocent Cannabis users are getting caught up in these operations and having their medicinal plants stolen from them by armed police who invade their property. Police swore an oath to uphold the peace but they themselves are breaking the peace by arresting and locking-up non-violent cannabis users."

Police are confiscating the properties of innocent New Zealanders who happen to grow Cannabis plants, Mr Crawford said.

"If the Draconian legal attacks on Cannabis users are not stopped in their tracks, all New Zealanders will soon know what it's like to live under Draconian rule. Like the canary in the coal mine, our rights and freedoms will be gone."

Only a Party Vote for the ALCP will ensure an end to the failed War on Drugs in New Zealand.

ENDS

* Business and Economic Research (BERL)

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