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Misuse of Drugs Act 1975

Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
New Zealand Parliament
  • An Act to consolidate and amend the Narcotics Act 1965 and to make further provision for the prevention of misuse of drugs
Legislative history
Passed1975
Status: Current legislation

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is a New Zealand drug control law that classifies drugs into three classes, or schedules, purportedly based on their projected risk of serious harm.[1] However, in reality, classification of drugs outside of passing laws (such as this one), where the restriction has no legal power, is performed by the governor-general in conjunction with the Minister of Health,[2] neither of whom is actually bound by law to obey this restriction.

In December 2018 it was amended to permit terminally ill patients to use marijuana without risk of prosecution.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 No 116 (as at 01 December 2010), 3A Classification of drugs". New Zealand Legislation: Acts. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 No 116 (as at 01 December 2010), Amendment of schedules that identify controlled drugs and precursor substances, and set amount, level, or quantity at and over which controlled drugs are presumed to be for supply". Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. ^ Bennett, Lucy (11 December 2018). "Medicinal cannabis bill passes third reading". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  4. ^ Roy, Eleanor Ainge (11 December 2018). "New Zealand passes laws to make medical marijuana widely available". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2018.