One of the underappreciated joys of parenthood is lying to your children. Children are full of questions. Read more
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand should suspend its decision to increase banks’ capital and re-open the public consultation process says public policy think tank, The New Zealand Initiative. The RBNZ’s decision to increase the capital banks are required to hold will have adverse effects for borrowers and the wider economy. Read more
Despite what Education Minister Chris Hipkins would have us believe, you cannot simply google everything. Technology has undoubtedly transformed our ability to access information, but despite what Hipkins told Newshub, memory still matters. Read more
Ever since the OECD began testing the educational performance of 15-year olds in the early 2000s, New Zealand has performed progressively worse in all three assessed areas of reading, maths and science. The troubling trajectory was confirmed again with the release of the results of the OECD's 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing round. Read more
Confirmation came today that New Zealand’s once world-leading school system continues its steady decline. Ever since the OECD began testing the educational performance of 15-year olds in the early 2000s, New Zealand has performed progressively worse in all three assessed areas of reading, maths and science. Read more
Moving to New Zealand in 2003 was a bit like stepping into an underpowered time machine. The new-release movies in theatre were ones that had hit the big screen in the US months earlier. Read more
The Ministry of Business’ Fair Pay Agreement discussion paper released last month took a long time coming. The ministry sat on it for 10 months following the release of the Bolger-led Fair Pay Agreement Working Group’s report last December. Read more
Status: Medical Use History: 1997: Decriminalised the possession of small amounts of cannabis to a civil infraction with a $US100 fine 2014: Legalised cannabis for medical use 2019: Expanded the decriminalisation of possession of cannabis, liberalising the law further, but did not legalise it Policy Framework: Four dispensaries are operational in the state of New York for medical cannabis; Patients must have a qualifying condition (there are 14 presently) to obtain medical cannabis; Only non-smokable forms of medical cannabis are permitted; Home cultivation is not permitted; 98,101 estimated registered medical cannabis patients; Possession of fewer than 2oz (56g) is decriminalised to a “violation” punishable by a fine of up to $US200; Possession of up to 8oz (226g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Possession of more than 8oz of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $US15,000; Distribution/sale of less than 2g (0.07oz) of cannabis or a cannabis cigarette without profit is a misdemeanour punishable by up to three months in prison and fines of up to $US500; Distribution or sale of more than 25g (0.8g) of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000; Cultivation of any amount of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $US1000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.0% to 1.7%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US40.9 million. Read more
Status: Medical Use History: 2015: CBD (cannabidiol) oil legalised for over-the-counter use 2018: Medical cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Medical cannabis must be recommended by a licensed doctor for patients who wish to obtain it legally; Patients can possess 3oz (85g) of cannabis, 72oz (2kg) of edible cannabis, 6 mature cannabis plants, six immature cannabis plants, and 1oz (30g) of concentrated cannabis; Patients are permitted to use smokable forms of medical cannabis; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries; There are an estimated 178,173 registered medical cannabis patients in Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority; Possession of any amount of cannabis for recreational use is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Sale or distribution of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US500,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.9% to 1.0%. Read more
Status: Medical Use History: 2007: Medical cannabis legalised 2019: Possession of small amounts of cannabis decriminalised to a petty misdemeanour Policy Framework: To qualify for medical cannabis, it must be recommended to patients by a physician for treatment of certain qualifying conditions; An allowance is made for patients to cultivate medical cannabis in their own homes. Up to 16 plants are allowed per household with 12 being immature and four being mature; Patients must be registered to access the medical cannabis programme; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary; Estimated number of registered patients 80,000; Possession of less than 0.5oz (15g) of cannabis for recreational use is decriminalised with a maximum penalty of a $US50 fine; Possession of up to 8oz (226g) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $US1000; Possession of more than 8oz is a felony punishable by up to 1.5 years in prison and a fine of up to $US5000; Distribution of any amount of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 18 years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000; Cultivation of any amount of cannabis (if an individual is not a registered medical cannabis patient) is a felony punishable by up to 18 years in prison and fines of up to $US15,000. Read more
Status: Medical only History: 2010: Medical cannabis legalised 2017: Liberalised medical cannabis laws by adding more conditions that qualify for medical cannabis treatment 2017 and 2019: Failed attempts at legalising cannabis for recreational use Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced “alternate treatment" centres; Caregivers for patients are permitted to collect medical cannabis for card-holding patients but must undergo criminal background checks; Patients may possess up to 3oz (85g) per month; Patients are not permitted to cultivate their own cannabis at home; Possession of cannabis for recreational use is a crime punishable by up to 1.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US25,000; Distribution of any amount of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 51,000 registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.4% to 1.0%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US37 million. Read more
Status: Medical use History: 2013: Medical cannabis legalised 2014: Attempt at legalising recreational cannabis failed 2017: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use is decriminalised in small amounts to a $US100-200 fine Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a “physically debilitating” condition and should only be recommended cannabis by a physician if all other treatments fail; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary; Patients can possess up to 2oz (56g) of medical cannabis at a time; Patients may not grow their own cannabis at home; Selling or intent to sell remains a serious felony; Possession of less than 0.75oz (21g) for recreational use is decriminalised to a civil infraction (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a fine of about $US100; Sale or possession with intent to sell less than 1oz (30g) is a felony; Sale or possession with intent to sell of any amount is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 7120 registered medical cannabis patients in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.2% to 1.9%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US7.2 million. Read more
Status: Medical Cannabis Only History: 2004: Medical cannabis legalised 2016: Medical cannabis laws took effect, “effectively kicking 93% of the state’s medical cannabis patients off the state programme and into the illicit market,” taxes doubled to pay for enforcement 2017: Added compulsory testing and sales tracking for medical cannabis suppliers Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced dispensary; Patients must have a Montana medical cannabis card and register to a dispensary to purchase medical cannabis; Patients may possess up to 1oz (30g) of cannabis flower or its equivalent; Providers must obtain three separate licenses in order to be able to open a dispensary in Montana. Licences to sell cannabis differ in price according to how many medical cannabis card-holders have registered an individual as their main provider; Patients may cultivate their own medical cannabis at home; There are an estimated 32,240 registered medical cannabis patients in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Health & Human Services. Read more
Status: Medical only History: 2014: Criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis were reduced, although remained criminal 2014: CBD (Cannabidiol) oil legalised 2018: Medical cannabis legalised Policy Framework: Patients with qualifying conditions (certified by a physician) can obtain cannabis legally; Limit of six plants per household; 192 medical cannabis dispensaries state-wide; Patients must be at least 18-years-old in order to obtain medical cannabis from a doctor; Medical cannabis cannot be obtained from pharmacies and are only sold at licensed dispensaries; Patients must register to the Missouri medical cannabis program to obtain a medical cannabis card which they must use to purchase medical cannabis; Possession of up to 10g (0.3oz) of cannabis is a misdemeanour punishable by a $US500 fine for the first offence and a year and a fine of up to $US2000 for subsequent offences; Possession of more than 35g (1.2oz) is a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $US10,000; Sale or trafficking is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US10,000 or 2x profit; There are an estimated 30,200 registered medical cannabis patients in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.8% to 1.2%. Read more
Status: Legal for recreational use Policy history: 2001: Medical cannabis legalised 2001: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use was no longer a felony 2013: Medical cannabis sales began 2016: Recreational legalised 2017: Recreational cannabis laws come into force Policy Framework Consumers: Must be 21-years-or-older to purchase consume or possess cannabis; Can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis at one time and up to 0.8oz (22g) of cannabis concentrate; Cannot consume cannabis in a public place; Cannot drive (or be a passenger) under the influence of cannabis; Can purchase up to 2.4oz (68g) over a two week period; Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal unless the cultivator lives 25 miles (40km) away from a licensed dispensary - they may grow no more than six plants per person and a household may contain no more than 12 plants; Unlicensed distribution or possession with intent to sell is still a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000; Cultivation of 12 plants or more is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000. Expungement: Manual record-sealing as of June 2019 Suppliers must be licensed; 15% excise tax on wholesale sales (paid by the cultivator); 10% excise tax on retail sale; Employees of cannabis businesses must be over the age of 21. Read more