It can take courage to champion what you believe in. Especially when your views are at odds with those of the crowd. Read more
One of the underappreciated joys of parenthood is lying to your children. Children are full of questions. Read more
Confirmation came this week that New Zealand’s once world-leading school system continues its steady decline. Ever since the OECD began testing the educational performance of 15-year olds in the early 2000s, New Zealand students have performed progressively worse in all three assessed areas of reading, maths and science. Read more
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand should suspend its decision to increase banks’ capital and re-open the public consultation process says public policy think tank, The New Zealand Initiative. The RBNZ’s decision to increase the capital banks are required to hold will have adverse effects for borrowers and the wider economy. Read more
Despite what Education Minister Chris Hipkins would have us believe, you cannot simply google everything. Technology has undoubtedly transformed our ability to access information, but despite what Hipkins told Newshub, memory still matters. Read more
Ever since the OECD began testing the educational performance of 15-year olds in the early 2000s, New Zealand has performed progressively worse in all three assessed areas of reading, maths and science. The troubling trajectory was confirmed again with the release of the results of the OECD's 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing round. Read more
Confirmation came today that New Zealand’s once world-leading school system continues its steady decline. Ever since the OECD began testing the educational performance of 15-year olds in the early 2000s, New Zealand has performed progressively worse in all three assessed areas of reading, maths and science. Read more
Moving to New Zealand in 2003 was a bit like stepping into an underpowered time machine. The new-release movies in theatre were ones that had hit the big screen in the US months earlier. Read more
The Ministry of Business’ Fair Pay Agreement discussion paper released last month took a long time coming. The ministry sat on it for 10 months following the release of the Bolger-led Fair Pay Agreement Working Group’s report last December. Read more
Status: Medical Cannabis Only History: 2004: Medical cannabis legalised 2016: Medical cannabis laws took effect, “effectively kicking 93% of the state’s medical cannabis patients off the state programme and into the illicit market,” taxes doubled to pay for enforcement 2017: Added compulsory testing and sales tracking for medical cannabis suppliers Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced dispensary; Patients must have a Montana medical cannabis card and register to a dispensary to purchase medical cannabis; Patients may possess up to 1oz (30g) of cannabis flower or its equivalent; Providers must obtain three separate licenses in order to be able to open a dispensary in Montana. Licences to sell cannabis differ in price according to how many medical cannabis card-holders have registered an individual as their main provider; Patients may cultivate their own medical cannabis at home; There are an estimated 32,240 registered medical cannabis patients in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Health & Human Services. Read more
Status: Medical only History: 2010: Medical cannabis legalised 2017: Liberalised medical cannabis laws by adding more conditions that qualify for medical cannabis treatment 2017 and 2019: Failed attempts at legalising cannabis for recreational use Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licenced “alternate treatment" centres; Caregivers for patients are permitted to collect medical cannabis for card-holding patients but must undergo criminal background checks; Patients may possess up to 3oz (85g) per month; Patients are not permitted to cultivate their own cannabis at home; Possession of cannabis for recreational use is a crime punishable by up to 1.5 years in prison and fines of up to $US25,000; Distribution of any amount of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; Cultivation of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 51,000 registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.4% to 1.0%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US37 million. Read more
Status: Medical use History: 2013: Medical cannabis legalised 2014: Attempt at legalising recreational cannabis failed 2017: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use is decriminalised in small amounts to a $US100-200 fine Policy Framework: Patients must be diagnosed with a “physically debilitating” condition and should only be recommended cannabis by a physician if all other treatments fail; Medical cannabis can only be obtained from a state-licensed dispensary; Patients can possess up to 2oz (56g) of medical cannabis at a time; Patients may not grow their own cannabis at home; Selling or intent to sell remains a serious felony; Possession of less than 0.75oz (21g) for recreational use is decriminalised to a civil infraction (like a speeding ticket) punishable by a fine of about $US100; Sale or possession with intent to sell less than 1oz (30g) is a felony; Sale or possession with intent to sell of any amount is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $US300,000; There are an estimated 7120 registered medical cannabis patients in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.2% to 1.9%; In 2018, sales of medical marijuana reached $US7.2 million. Read more
Status: Legal for recreational use Policy history: 2001: Medical cannabis legalised 2001: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use was no longer a felony 2013: Medical cannabis sales began 2016: Recreational legalised 2017: Recreational cannabis laws come into force Policy Framework Consumers: Must be 21-years-or-older to purchase consume or possess cannabis; Can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis at one time and up to 0.8oz (22g) of cannabis concentrate; Cannot consume cannabis in a public place; Cannot drive (or be a passenger) under the influence of cannabis; Can purchase up to 2.4oz (68g) over a two week period; Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal unless the cultivator lives 25 miles (40km) away from a licensed dispensary - they may grow no more than six plants per person and a household may contain no more than 12 plants; Unlicensed distribution or possession with intent to sell is still a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000; Cultivation of 12 plants or more is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000. Expungement: Manual record-sealing as of June 2019 Suppliers must be licensed; 15% excise tax on wholesale sales (paid by the cultivator); 10% excise tax on retail sale; Employees of cannabis businesses must be over the age of 21. Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 1979: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for first-time offenders was decriminalised 2015: Failed attempt to legalise medical cannabis Policy Framework: Possession of less than 1oz (30g) of cannabis for a first-time offence is a civil infraction punishable by $US300; Possession of less than 1oz for a second or third offence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to seven days in prison and a fine of up to $US300; Possession of more than 1oz but less than 1lb is a misdemeanour punishable by three months in prison and a fine of $US500; Possession of more than 1lb of cannabis is a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $US10,000; Sale or cultivation is a felony punishable by up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $US25,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.5% to 1.2%. Read more
Status: Prohibited History: 2014: Legalisation of CBD (cannabidiol) Policy Framework: Possession of under 30g (1oz) for the first offence is decriminalised to a $US250 fine; Possession of 30g or less (following offences) is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $US1000; Possession of more than 30g is a felony punishable by up to up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $US1,000,000; Sale of any amount is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $US20,000. Outcomes: Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 1.4% to 1.3%. Read more