Legalize Cannabis in New Zealand!!

'Prohibition of Cannabis has been a complete failure.' We all know this. It has been publicized all across the western world, most prominently of late, in the United States of America. State after state are all of a sudden legalizing Cannabis! But what about New Zealand? Should we be following suit? Here in NZ taxpayers spend over $100 MILLION every year on those incarcerated for cannabis related crimes. We don't treat alcoholics with prison sentences!? With all of this legalization news from overseas, it makes you wonder how harmful this plant really is and if the $100 million is really worth it. Cannabis is a natural plant that has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. In fact, it has been only in the last century that it hasn't been a widely accepted and used medicine. Recent studies by highly respected research facilities such as Harvard University, have proven Cannabis' useful properties, including treatment for; Tumors, Alzheimers, Asthma, Epilepsy, Cancers, HIV/Aids, Glaucoma, Muscular Spacisity and more. We also find benefits for side effects of many conditions like Insomnia, Depression, Nausea and Vomiting, Low Appetite and Pain. All of these amazing benefits without the horrible side effects that come with conventional medicines. I believe as human beings we all deserve to choose from all of our options, not just those that help pharma companies make billions. Medical Cannabis is actually available legally in NZ right now, under the brand name Sativex. According to an article on voxy.co.nz, "They (patients) would rather be smoking cannabis than taking the commercial drug: they find the cannabis more effective, cheaper, and more pleasant to take," NORML's spokesman said, "But growing their own or buying it illegally brings significant risks." Does it make you wonder why our government is telling us cannabis is a dangerous drug when its selling that same drug to us as medicine?? Yeah, me too.

Other Myths Debunked:
"Cannabis is addictive and is a gateway drug."
-It is less addictive than coffee, and there is no such thing as a gateway drug. It is impossible to get addicted to a drug before you have ever done it, you still have to make the decision to do the new drug for the first time. This usually only happens purely because of the fact Cannabis is illegal, so forces users to be associated with criminals and hard drug users. I accept that most hard drug users probably started out on cannabis, but then you could also argue that most cannabis users started out on tobacco, alcohol or coffee.. They're drugs too?

'Its preferable to have my teen out having a few drinks than smoking drugs.'
-Alcohol, while legal, is addictive and causes many health problems including of course, death. You may be surprised to know there has never been a death caused by Cannabis in the history of the world.. EVER. In fact while alcohol kills brain cells, cannabis has neuro-protective properties, literally protecting your brain.

'Cannabis will turn my child into a criminal.'
-The only reason cannabis users turn into criminals is because they are forced to associate with them. If cannabis were legal it would be bought, consumed and enjoyed without danger or criminal association.

If New Zealand were to legalize Cannabis, we would be able to spend that 100 million on the health system, rehab facilities, instead of wasting it on overcrowding our prisons with innocent people. We could have Cannabis regulated like tobacco, R18, no advertising, hidden from shoppers view, special outlets, maybe even by prescription only until more research have been done on its recreational properties.
If I was dying of cancer I wouldn't care how harmful it was anyway, chemo is the conventional treatment and that works literally by killing every cell, healthy and cancerous. As New Zealanders and as human beings, we deserve the choice of what we put in our own bodies. Laws should be for protecting, not inhibiting.

Really its only a matter of time before its legal here, but why not push for sooner rather than later? Why not if it could save even one persons life?