Leader Julian Crawford Deputy Abe Gray Headquarters 66 David St, Dunedin | President Richard Goode Founded 1996 (1996) Ideology Cannabis legalisation | |
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP; also known as the Cannabis Party) is a political party in New Zealand. It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances.
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Under New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, cannabis is currently classed (depending on product / substance) as either a Class B drug ("Very high risk of harm") or a Class C drug ("moderate risk of harm").
Party history and policies
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Caversham, Dunedin. Michael Appleby led the party from 1996 until standing down in 2013, after which Julian Crawford was elected as leader. It has contested every general election since its founding as well as six by-elections and intends to contest the 2017 election. The party has never won representation in Parliament.
The Cannabis Party's policies all relate to cannabis, hemp, or drug education. These include legalising possession, growing and use of cannabis for those over 18, creating a 'medpot' card, taxing companies involved in the cannabis industry, removing the need for a licence to grow hemp, and funding drug education and research.
In 2008, Crawford invited Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope to join the Cannabis Party, but he declined, saying, "Their judgement has obviously been impaired by their recreational habits".
Two Cannabis Party candidates went on to become Members of Parliament for the Green Party. Nándor Tánczos and Metiria Turei were both ALCP candidates in 1996; Tánczos became a Green MP in 1999 and Turei became a Green MP in 2002. Another candidate in 1996, Tim Shadbolt, became the mayor of Invercargill from 1998 and still holds the role. Shadbolt had previously been mayor of Invercargill from 1993 to 1995, and mayor of Waitemata from 1983 to 1989.
General elections
The Cannabis Party's best general election result was in first election in 1996 where it won 1.66% of the party vote. It won 1.10% of the party vote in 1999, but since then has not received more than 1% of the party vote in any election. The Cannabis Party has nominated candidates for electorate seats in each election. No ALCP candidate has ever won a seat. In the last ten years (the 2008-2014 general elections), the most successful ALCP candidate was Emma-Jane Mihaere Kingi, who won 1,005 votes in the Te Tai Tonga electora (5% of electorate votes cast).
The Cannabis Party mounted an aggressive campaign for the 2008 general election, with several high profile candidates including Steven Wilkinson (West Coast-Tasman) and Julian Crawford (Dunedin North). In the 2011 New Zealand general election, there was a minor resurgence in the ALCP voter share, which rose to 0.52% (11,738 votes in all), making them the 10th most popular party. In the 2014 New Zealand general election, the ALCP's voter share was 10,961 votes, or 0.46% of votes cast.
By-elections
The Cannabis Party has also contested all by-elections held since its founding. Its most successful result was in the 2004 Te Tai Hauauru by-election. Only the Māori Party, the ALCP, and independents contested this by-election. The ALCP candidate, Dun Mihaka, finished second behind Maori Party leader Tariana Turia, receiving 197 votes (2.52%) to Turia's 7,256 (92.74%).