Three Christchurch electorates backed cannabis reform

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

Cantabrians were almost as divided as the nation over cannabis reform, with three electorates voting for legalisation and four against.

In Banks Peninsula 51 per cent of voters backed cannabis legalisation, while in Christchurch Central and Christchurch East it was 54 per cent.

The preliminary results of the cannabis referendum, released on Friday October 30, showed 53.1 per cent of voters said “no” to a question of whether the Government should legislate to legalise recreational cannabis.

In the suburbs of Ilam and Wigram, 53 per cent and 51 per cent voted no.

In the mid-Canterbury electorates there was a more resounding response, with Selwyn (58.9 per cent) and Waimakariri (58.3 per cent) voting no.

Christchurch Central’s 54 per cent backing of cannabis reform contrasts with Wellington Central, where 72 per cent voted yes.

And in Auckland Central – where Green Party drug reform spokeswoman Chloe Swarbrick is the MP – 67 per cent of people voted yes.