Drug laws up in smoke: New Zealanders could be legally smoking marijuana in three years

• New Zealand will vote on legalising cannabis over the next three years
• A public referendum will be held as part of the new government's policies
• The referendum is a condition of the agreement between Labour and Greens 

By Ben Hill 

New Zealanders will vote on legalising cannabis for personal use following a change in government.

Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern swept to power after negotiations with the New Zealand First and Green parties were secured on Thursday.

A condition of the confidence and supply agreement between Ardern’s Labour party and the Greens is a public referendum on personal marijuana use in the next three years, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern swept to power after negotiations with the New Zealand First and Green parties were secured

Green Party leader James Shaw said current laws meant the entire drug trade was being controlled by gangs.

‘If you had a regulated market, the same way we do with alcohol and tobacco, you can control the price, advertising, point of sale, quality and run full public health education campaigns.’

Mr Shaw believed public opinion was in favour of legalising marijuana, and that it should be treated as a health rather than criminal issue.

Green Party leader James Shaw said current laws meant the entire drug trade was being controlled by gangs

New Zealand First - the other member of the ruling coalition – supports a referendum on legalising marijuana.

The policies negotiated between the Greens and Labour included ‘significant’ climate action, an overhaul of the welfare system and an increase in amount spent on conservation.

Securing agreements with New Zealand First and the Greens means Ms Ardern will become New Zealand's third woman Prime Minister.

The result caps a remarkable revival for Labour since she replaced Andrew Little as leader just 80 days before Thursday’s announcement.