Ross Bell
Debate over proposed legal cannabis limits
Opponents of legalising cannabis say the amount people could buy each day will make life worse for those who are already heavy users.
Those who support it say buying up to 14 grams of dried weed at a… Audio
Covid-19: Referendum campaigners seek clarification
Referendum campaigners are urgently seeking clarification on how they can proceed with the election date moved back by a month.
Registered campaigners can only spend $330,000 in the three months to… Audio
Drug Foundation defends cannabis referendum campaign
The Drug Foundation is defending a campaign that's being labelled "misleading".
The ad, which encourages people to vote "yes" in the upcoming cannabis referendum, mentions "medicinal treatment".
… Audio
Referenda campaigners say Covid-19 disrupted plans
In 100 days time, New Zealanders will wake up on a Saturday and be asked to choose the next government, whether to legalise cannabis and also whether to allow assisted dying.
Groups fighting on both… Audio
Funding to study pill testing effectiveness
The Ministry of Health has given nearly $60,000 for research into drug testing at music festivals. Audio
The Panel with Alexia Russell and Conor English (Part 1)
Donald Trump has become the third US president in history to be impeached. The House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats, voted to impeach Mr Trump on two charges - abuse of power and… Audio
Drug Foundation wants roadside testing before referendum
The Drug Foundation wants roadside drug testing to be in place before the cannabis referendum next year.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter says she will introduce a bill to parliament… Audio
Cannabis 'Reefer-endum' ticks all the boxes - Drug Foundation
It's been called the "Reefer-endum" - and as of Thursday the draft cnnabis legislation bill has been made public.
It proposes allowing people to buy up to 14 grams of the drug a day, making edibles… Audio
Haze surrounding cannabis referendum begins to lift
The haze surrounding the cannabis referendum is starting to lift - with more details revealing what a yes vote next year would mean.
The Government's released a draft bill setting out the rules which… Audio
NZ's Drug Foundation responds to the draft cannabis legislation
The Government is proposing to make it legal to buy a maximum of 14 grams of cannabis a day. That's one of the proposals in legislation unveiled this afternoon by the Justice Minister, Andrew Little… Audio
Fewer charges for low level drug offending
The police are charging about 25 percent fewer people for low level drug offending than they were before a law change in August.
Three times as many people are being sent to health services… Audio
Best of First Up for Tuesday 22 October 2019
On the Podcast today we talk to Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation, Millie Sylvester tells us about the latest TradeMe auctions, we meet protesters at the Tegel factory and Brodie Retallick gives an… Audio
Meth dealers who admit use could have sentences reduced by 30%
Methamphetamine dealers who can prove their own personal addiction played a role in their offending are now eligible for a sentence reduced by up to thirty-percent. It's just one of many changes to… Audio
NZ First shuts down legal drug testing
NZ First has shot down a plan to make drug testing legal by this summer, because they say it could encourage drug use. Police Minister Stuart Nash said the move would save lives and hospitalisations.
…Drug Foundation seeks wider focus than synthetic drugs
Provisional figures from the Coroner show that since 2017, up to 75 people have died from synthetic cannabis toxicity. Ross Bell from The Drug Foundation tells Morning Report the root causes of the… Audio
All Black TJ Perenara's wrist branding
The All Black reserve halfback TJ Perenara wrote "Ihumatao" on his wrist band and proudly displayed it during the national anthem and while leading the All Blacks haka. Audio
Plummeting support for recreational cannabis
Support for legalising recreational cannabis has plummeted in a recent poll. Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation joins us to chat about what this means for next year's vote. Audio
Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill passes through Parliament
Drugs legislation that's being described as the biggest shake up to the Act in 40 years, has passed its final reading in Parliament.
The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill passed 63-57 - with Labour, New… Audio
Cannabis licensing
People who were hoping to start a small business growing medicinal cannabis may be disappointed beause the license cost is beyond their means.The layout would cost up to $16,800 for the first year and… Audio
Drug law change: Is it effectively decriminalisation?
The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill is the Government's response to the synthetic drug crisis, but submitters to the Health Select Committee have expressed concern about allowing widening the police… Audio