- Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (sometimes known as the ALCP) is a small
political party inNew Zealand (known as "Aotearoa" in theMaori language ). It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances. The ALCP describes current legislation on cannabis as being oppressive, and says that users of cannabis are subject to persecution. It compares laws against cannabis to the historic prohibition of alcohol. Under New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, cannabis is classed as a Class C drug.The ALCP was founded in
1996 . It has never won representation in Parliament. It won 1.66% of the vote in the 1996 election but its support has declined since that point – in the 1999 election it won 1.10% of the vote, in the 2002 election 0.64% and in the 2005 election 0.23%. Some of this decline may be attributed to the rise of the Green Party as an independent entity – the Greens also support the reform of drug laws, but to a lesser degree than the ALCP. One current and one recent Green MP,Metiria Turei andNandor Tanczos , were ALCP candidates in 1996. The party's leader is Michael Appleby. The party contested the by-election in Te Tai Hauauru in mid2004 — with their candidate,Dun Mihaka , receiving 197 votes (2.52%).Some critics have argued that their running in the 2005 election cost the Green Party its List MP Nandor Tanczos, due to diversion of votes from the pro-reform Greens. However, their 0.23% of the party vote is unlikely to have made a difference, as not all ALCP voters would vote Green in those circumstances, and given the sudden death of Green co-leader
Rod Donald , Tanczos returned to Parliament.The ALCP is mounting an aggressive campaign for the 2008 general election, with several high profile candidates including Steven Wilkinson (West Coast/Tasman) and Julian Crawford (
Dunedin North). [Otago Daily Times, 18 June, 2008]See also
*
Legal issues of cannabis
*Marijuana parties References
External links
* [http://www.alcp.org.nz Official party website]
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