Final result
Proposal not carried
Official referendum result
Legal guide · New Zealand edition
The 2020 referendum in New Zealand
New Zealand voted on the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill at the 2020 general election. The proposal was not supported by a majority, so the draft bill did not proceed.
Yes vote
48.4%
Final Electoral Commission result
No vote
50.7%
Final Electoral Commission result
Legal effect
No change
Draft bill did not become law
What voters considered
The referendum concerned a proposed regulated adult-use framework. The proposal included licensed supply, age restrictions and limited home cultivation, but it remained a draft unless supported and passed by Parliament.
What the result means
Because the proposal was not carried, it did not alter the Misuse of Drugs Act. Recreational cannabis therefore remained illegal after the vote.
Do not confuse it with medicinal access
The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme is a separate legal framework and commenced in 2020 independently of the referendum result.
More on New Zealand cannabis law
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