Clark says prohibition has failed but won’t respect referendum result

The Herald reports:

Health Minister David Clark is personally in favour of more liberal drug laws because prohibition has not worked in the past.

He’s right.

But Clark would not commit to abiding by the result of any referendum on loosening laws around cannabis use, saying he preferred to wait for advice from his colleagues.

This is nuts. They’ve agreed to hold a referendum, but they won’t agree to implement the results of it.

Why hold the referendum in the first place?

National leader Simon Bridges today said that his party would abide by whatever decision the referendum returned.

But Clark would not commit to that.

Good to see National saying they will vote to implement the results of any referenda on cannabis and euthanasia.