Cannabis legalisation: A potentially mind-altering discussion

Nothing will divide a room quite like one of the country’s burning issues of the moment – so strap in for a potentially mind-altering discussion about the pros and cons, and additional considerations, of cannabis legalisation. With the cannabis policy referendum looming, the country is scrambling to get to grips about what New Zealand’s best options are for cannabis control. Benedikt will discuss different models of cannabis legalisation, regulatory options for use and supply control, and potential consequences of legalisation. 

What are the short and long term health effects of cannabis use? How would we best reduce cannabis-related health harms under legalisation? What will legalisation mean for young people? Benedikt will discuss what we know, what we don’t know and what we urgently need to know in this revealing, science-based talk. Want to be well-informed for the impending referendum? Then don’t miss this empowering discussion.

Bio

Professor Benedikt Fischer (PhD) is the Hugh Green Foundation Chair in Addiction Research at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Previously, he held senior academic positions including the Addiction Psychiatry Chair at the University of Toronto and the Applied Public Health Research Chair at Simon Fraser University in Canada. 

Benedikt’s interdisciplinary science focuses on health and social correlates of psychoactive substance use and related co-morbidities (such as mental health) as well as evidence-based interventions and policy. He has worked on public health-oriented frameworks for cannabis control for two decades and acted as scientific advisor to the Canadian Government in developing its cannabis legalisation framework.

6:30pm @Bamboo Tiger*, 335 Karangahape Road, Auckland 1010

*Please note that the venue has had a change of name from Shanghai Lil’s to Bamboo Tiger but remains at the same address.

Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Ethan Plaut.