November 1 was the beginning of a new era for the European Central Bank. Former French finance minister and IMF director Christine Lagarde is the new president of the ECB. Read more
Our executive director Dr Oliver Hartwich sits down with Kim Campbell to discuss the work of the Initiative, why it's important and highlights some of the challenges we face. Oliver gives some insights into his childhood in Germany, and his career path to how he ended up in Wellington at the Initiative. Read more
Until last week, the East German state of Thuringia was internationally most famous as the home of Martin Luther, Thuringian roasted sausages and the Bauhaus Movement. Now we can add last Sunday’s state election result to that list. Read more
Too many children pass NCEA without being functionally literate. Minister Hipkins committed, in his 2019 NCEA change package, to address this by raising the bar. Read more
I often describe New Zealand as the Outside of the Asylum – the last sane place in a world going mad. But just what should we make of New Zealand’s public health system? Read more
Status: Prohibited
History:
1977: Cannabis was partially decriminalised in South Dakota, but the new law was almost immediately repealed
2018: Failed attempt to legalise medical cannabis
Policy Framework
Possession of less than 2oz (60g) is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and a fine of $US2000;
Possession of more than 2oz is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US30,000;
Sale of less than 0.5oz (14g) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of $US2000;
Sale of more than 0.5oz is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US30,000;
Cultivation of cannabis is charged by the aggregate weight of the plants possessed and is charged under “possession” or “possession with intent to distribute.”
Outcomes:
Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 increased from 1.5% to 1.6%.
Source: https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/state/south-dakota/crime Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 2015: Legalisation of CBD (cannabidiol) oil for a limited number of conditions. No infrastructure in place for patients to obtain CBD oil legally and if patients can’t prove they obtained it legally outside of Tennessee. Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 2015: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalised for patients with epilepsy 2019: Industrial hemp legalised Policy Framework: Possession of less than 4oz (113g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US4000; Possession of more than 4oz is a felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and fines of up to $US55,000; Sale of less than 7g (0.2oz) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US4000; Cultivation is charged under possession. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.3%. Read more
Status: Medical only History: 2014: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalised 2018: “Right to Try” law passed, allowing terminally ill patients to try and grow cannabis in their homes 2018: Medical cannabis legalised, although dispensaries aren’t projected to open until 2021 Policy Framework: Patients must have a qualifying condition in order to obtain medical cannabis legally; Patients can possess a 30-day supply of medical cannabis as prescribed by their doctor; Home cultivation is not allowed; Regulators may license up to 14 dispensaries, although these are not yet operational and are not projected to open until 2021; Possession of less than 1oz (30g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in prison and fines of up to $US1000; Possession of up to 1lb (16oz) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US2500; Possession of more than 1lb of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Sale of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $US5000; Cultivation of cannabis is punishable under the same guise as a possession. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12, decreased from 1.4% to 1.3%. Read more
Status: Legal History: 2004: Medical cannabis legalised 2013: Possession of less than an ounce decriminalised 2017-2018: Recreational cannabis legalised although no dispensary system was implemented while private sales of the drug remain illegal Policy Framework: Consumers: Must be 21-years-of-age or older to purchase, possess or consume cannabis; May possess up to 1oz (30g) of cannabis at a time; May possess up to two mature plants and four immature plants provided they are securely enclosed and screened from public view; Cannot purchase cannabis without a medical cannabis patient certificate; May not consume cannabis in public spaces; May not operate a motor vehicle under the influence of cannabis; Cannabis convicts can manually seal their criminal records; Possession of more than 1oz and less than 2oz (60g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to $US2000; Possession of more than 2oz of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US500,000; It is still illegal to distribute cannabis unless it is gifted (provided it falls under the personal possession limits). Dispensaries are not implemented and the only legal way of obtaining cannabis through an unremunerated gift. Read more
Status: Legal for recreational use Policy History: 1923: Washington State legislature passes the bill to criminalise marijuana, punishable by up to 10 years in prison 1971: No longer a crime to possess up to 1.4oz (40g) of marijuana 1998: Initiative 692 Referendum results in the legalisation of medical marijuana 2012: Recreational cannabis is made legal Policy Framework: Consumers: Must be above the age of 21 to purchase, possess or consume cannabis; May not consume cannabis in public places; May not drive under the influence of cannabis; An excise tax of 37%; May not consume cannabis in public view. Suppliers: Must be state-licensed; Can’t sell more than 1oz (30g) to an individual in a single transaction; People are not permitted to cultivate their own cannabis (punishable by $US10,000 fine). Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 2014: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalisation to treat seizure disorders Policy Framework: Possession of any amount of cannabis for a first offence is a misdemeanour punishable by six months in prison and fines of up to $US1000; Possession of any amount of cannabis for a subsequent offence is a felony punishable by 3.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Sale or delivery of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US50,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12, decreased from 1.8% to 1.3%. Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 2015: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalised for the treatment of seizures but does not provide any way to legally obtain CBD oil within the state Policy Framework: Being under the influence of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by six months in prison and a fine of up to $US750; Possession of 3oz (85g) or less of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by a year in prison and fines of up to $US1000; Possession of any more than 3oz is a felony punishable by five years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Sale or distribution of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by 10 years in prison and fines of up to $US10,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by six months in prison and fines of up to $US1000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12, decreased from 1.6% to 1.2%. Read more
Last Thursday, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank pledged to offer on a daily basis at least $120 billion of cash injections in the short-term money market, up from the initial $75 billion supply agreed last month. Read more
Taken at face value, the government’s zero-carbon bill is a toothless façade. On closer examination, it looks more like a Trojan Horse for dictatorial government by decree. Read more
