New Zealanders Agree More With Lethal Injection Than Legalized Marijuana

JAKARTA - New Zealand has held a referendum vote on changing laws in the country. Two of the highlights were highlighted: legalizing marijuana and euthanasia. Legalization of marijuana is likely to fail. Meanwhile, euthanasia is supported by the majority.

Friday, October 30th, accounting for 65 percent of New Zealand's population voted for a law they call "The End of Life Choice Act". Essentially, euthanasia is doctor-supervised suicide. Usually done by lethal injection.

Shots will be legal for people with chronic illnesses, including those sentenced to have at least six months of life left. The condition is that applications for lethal injection must be approved by at least two doctors.

Meanwhile, efforts to legalize marijuana appear to be experiencing obstacles. There have only been 46 percent of the vote so far, compared with 53 percent for opposition. Although this result is still temporary because the final result is determined on November 6, the percentage does not favor the five-finger plant.

Chloe Swarbrick, a member of parliament from the Green Party said they should wait until a special vote takes place at the end of next week. He said the referendum was about legalization and not decriminalization so that it could solve supply chain problems.

"What we're talking about here always is getting control of the supply chain and getting it off the black market exposing the problem so we can deal with it like adults," said Swarbrick, quoted by Euronews, Friday, October 30.

People say the law hurts marginalized communities in particular. Conservative MP Nick Smith, meanwhile, doubts that there will be a win even after the special votes are counted.

He called the provisional results "a reasonable win as New Zealand becomes healthier & safer."

"I just feel great, it gives me so much love for this country that we have chosen to give people who suffer some real choice, control and compassion at the end of their lives," MP David Seymour, in charge of the end of life option bill, told New Zealand media.

A spokesman for the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose party recently won elections, said she had voted yes in both referendums.