New Zealand to Vote on Legalization of Euthanasia and Recreational Marijuana on Election Day

In the face of her re-election, which will take place alongside the referendum on recreational marijuana legalization, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed that she had used marijuana in the past (Flickr).

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of the Labour Party will face conservative challenger Judith Collins from the National Party in New Zealand’s general election on October 17. In addition to the general election, the government will hold two referenda regarding the legalization of marijuana and euthanasia, reports the New Zealand Herald. 

The proposed euthanasia bill, the End of Life Choice Act, would grant New Zealanders the option to legally request assistance to end their lives if they meet certain criteria, including suffering from a terminal illness that will likely cause death within six months. If the euthanasia bill passes, which appears likely based on polls showing 56.1 percent support, New Zealand would become the sixth country to approve the practice. Several states in the United States and in Australia have also approved euthanasia.

The other referendum pertains to the legalization of recreational marijuana. During a debate, Ardern received applause from the audience for acknowledging her own marijuana use “a long time ago.” Roughly 80 percent of New Zealanders have tried marijuana at some point, according to independent studies, which is more than twice the rate in Australia and far above what Americans report. However, polls indicate that 55.6 percent of voters will vote against the proposition, while only 38.3 percent will vote in favor of the referendum. The headmaster of Mt. Albert Grammar School, one of the country's largest schools, has devoted his latest newsletter to calling for the protection of young people from gaining easier access to cannabis, pleading for “hope not dope.”

Early voting began on October 3 and will continue through election day on October 17. Electoral commission data shows that more than 1.7 million New Zealanders out of 3.4 million registered voters have already cast their ballots. While officials will announce the results of the general election shortly after the polls close, the outcome of the two referenda will remain uncertain until October 30, nearly two weeks after election day.