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New Zealand citizens voted in favor of euthanasia, but against the legalization of cannabis
Residents of the island nation have expressed support for more than 65% in euthanasia, in a referendum held in parallel with the general election.
However, a small majority of eligible voters opposed crop training and the sale of soft drugs.
The country is waiting for the final results after the special votes are counted
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Grace deaths
legalization
New Zealand
News agencies
Saturday, 31 October 2020, 16:26
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In the video: Jessinda Arden won the New Zealand election (Photo: Reuters, Edited by: Shaul Adam)
Most New Zealanders have voted in favor of making euthanasia legal for people suffering from extreme illness and against legalizing cannabis, according to the results of a referendum held in the country in parallel with the October 17 general election.
The results of the referendum are preliminary, and are missing nearly half a million votes from the special votes.
The results of the referendum are binding and the policy will take effect 12 months from the moment the final results of the referendum are received - on 6 November 2021. Assistance in the procedure will be provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Public support for the training of euthanasia came following a campaign that sought to give patients suffering from intense pain the ability to determine how and when they would end their lives.
According to data announced last night by the Election Commission, 65.2% of eligible voters marked "yes" to qualify euthanasia, while 33.8% marked "no".
Only 46.1% of New Zealanders expressed support for the legalization of cannabis, while 53.1% opposed.
The relatively small difference in the vote on cannabis left supporters of legalization with the hope that the special votes could skew the result.
Only 46.1% expressed support.
Signs in Support of Legalization, Christchurch, New Zealand (Photo: AP)
For years support for euthanasia has hovered around 60% -70% in polls, with widespread backing across the political spectrum, from Prime Minister Jessinda Arden to opposition leader Judith Collins.
The vote makes New Zealand the seventh country in the world to allow legislation to speed up the end of terminally ill patients and cause their deaths.
Activist of the charity campaign, Mary Panko, welcomed the vote after the initial results were announced, saying it was an "important day" for the country.
"Now it's finally clear what we already knew New Zealanders have been interested in for decades - the right to die on their own terms," she added.
"One day New Zealanders will shake their heads in astonishment at the thought that once upon a time the basic human right had to be argued - to say 'no' to unbearable pain. Now, after passing this law, both our lives and our deaths will be immeasurably good," Panko said.
"Give terminally ill people control over how they die."
A billboard urging voters to vote against euthanasia (Photo: AP)
Matt Vickers, a New Zealand resident who was widowed by his wife Critique Sils, who died of a brain tumor in 2015, was at the forefront of efforts to enact a law that would qualify euthanasia.
"I feel relieved, and I feel grateful that the New Zealanders were kind enough to support this law, and give terminally ill people control over how they die," Vickers said.
The country's referendum follows the passage of the "End of Life Choice" law in parliament in 2019.
Under existing New Zealand law, the practice of euthanasia could only take effect if more than 50% of voters voted "yes" in a referendum.
The law describes criteria according to which a person is given the opportunity to submit an application to end their lives.
Among these criteria the same person should be over the age of 18, a citizen of the country suffering from a terminal illness that will end his life within half a year.
The law states that the same person must present that "there is a significant and lasting decrease in physical ability," and that he "suffers from unbearably severe pain that cannot be relieved."
Those who suffer from a mental illness or deterioration in their mental state will not be eligible for euthanasia, nor will those who apply on the basis of "advanced age" or disability.
Two physicians - one of whom is self-employed - will need to sign the approval of the decision, and if there is any doubt about the applicant, there will be a psychiatrist's intervention.
15% of residents have used cannabis in the last 12 months
David Seymour, a New Zealand MP from the Libertarian ACT party who supported the bill, said it was "time for New Zealand to become more compassionate and tolerant".
"People continue to suffer in traumatic ways. I do not want to suffer in order to uphold someone else's morals. They have a body of their own by chance and they want a horrible death."
Contrary to the binding policy on euthanasia, which will come into force without further legislation, on the issue of cannabis legalization the situation is different, and even if a majority supports the move - it will be required for legislation in parliament.
Ahead of the October election showed that public opinion on the issue is changing.
The range of support according to surveys ranges from 30% -50%.
Voters were asked to decide whether they wanted a bill to legalize cannabis and regulate its use and sale.
This includes the production and sale of cannabis, including plants and seeds - for people over the age of 20. The change will lead to stricter restrictions around the sale of alcohol and tobacco.
Prime Minister Jessinda Arden said she voted yes in both poll questions.
Arden recently said she used cannabis "a very long time ago."
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To the full article
Cannabis is the most common illicit drug in New Zealand, and the latest health survey in the country found that 15%, or 590,000 adult New Zealanders, have used cannabis in the last 12 months.
Victoria University criminologist Fiona Hutton has criticized those who chose to vote against legalization, saying a "no" vote means "New Zealand's most vulnerable and marginalized people will continue to suffer". Hutton expressed disappointment and said, "I'm pretty devastated. To be honest, it's very, very sad." "People have resisted in order to protect young people and the mentally ill. All this will not happen. All the damage from non-discrimination will continue to happen," she said.
The Maori indigenous population makes up 16% of New Zealand's population, and its people are disproportionately affected by New Zealand's drug laws - with three times the number of arrests and prosecutions for drug possession of the entire non - Maori population.
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