Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
| Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party | |
|---|---|
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| Leader | Michael Appleby |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | 563 Worcester St, Christchurch |
| Ideology | Cannabis legalisation, decriminalisation |
| Official colours | Green, Black, White |
| MPs in the House of Representatives | 0 |
| Website | |
| www.alcp.org.nz | |
| Politics of New Zealand Political parties Elections |
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The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (sometimes known as the ALCP) is a political party in New Zealand. It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances. Under New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, cannabis is currently classed (depending on product / substance) as either a Class B drug ("Very high risk of harm") or a Class C drug ("moderate risk of harm").
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[edit] History
The ALCP was founded in 1996. It has never won representation in Parliament. It won 1.66% of the vote in the 1996 election but its support was declining until the party made a resurgence in 2008, almost doubling its vote. In the 1999 election it won 1.10% of the vote, in the 2002 election 0.64%, in the 2005 election 0.23%, and in the 2008 election 0.41%. One Green MP Metiria Turei and former Green MP Nandor Tanczos were ALCP candidates in 1996. The party's leader is Michael Appleby. The party contested the by-election in Te Tai Hauauru in mid 2004 — with their candidate, Dun Mihaka finishing second behind Maori Party Leader Tariana Turia, receiving 197 votes (2.52%).
The ALCP mounted an aggressive campaign for the 2008 general election, with several high profile candidates including Steven Wilkinson (West Coast/Tasman) and Julian Crawford (Dunedin North).[1] Crawford invited Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope to join the ALCP, but he declined, saying "Their judgement has obviously been impaired by their recreational habits".[2]
In the 2008 New Zealand general election they secured themselves 9515 votes, 0.41% of total party votes cast. This was more than Taito Philip Field's New Zealand Pacific Party, The Family Party, Libertarianz or the Alliance, but less than the Bill and Ben Party.[3]
[edit] 2009 Mount Albert by-election
Dakta Green stood for the ALCP in the Mount Albert by-election on 13 June 2009. He came sixth in the seat, outpolled by Labour, National, the Greens and ACT, as well as the Bill and Ben Party co-leader, Ben Boyce (151 votes). Green polled 92 votes, which meant that he just outpolled The Kiwi Party's Simmone Dyer (91 votes). Green also outpolled United Future New Zealand's Judy Turner (89 votes) and Libertarianz's Julian Pistorius (35 votes).[4]
[edit] 2010 Mana by-election
In the Mana by-election, Julian Crawford stood for the ALCP. He came sixth in the seat, outpolled by Labour, National, the Greens, Independent candidate and trade unionist Matt McCarten and ACT. However, Crawford only trailed ACT candidate Colin Du Plessis by twenty four votes (136-112) when the official results were announced.[5] The ALCP outpolled Libertarianz and the Alliance candidates, however, who came seventh and eighth, respectively.
[edit] 2011 Te Tai Tokerau by-election
In the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, 2011, Maki Herbert stood for the ALCP. She came fourth in the seat, outpolled by Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, Labour List MP Kelvin Davis and Maori Party candidate Tipene Solomon. Herbert outpolled Kelvyn Alp, formerly of the Direct Democracy Party.[6]
[edit] Electoral results (1996-2011)
| Election | # of candidates nominated (electorate/list) | # of seats won | # of party votes | % of popular vote |
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| 1996 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2002 |
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| 2005 |
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| 2008 |
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| 2011 |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Candidate for cannabis party". Otago Daily Times. 18 June 2008. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/9954/candidate-cannabis-party. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ Mackenzie, Dene (12 June 2008). "Party makes MP offer he can refuse". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/9280/party-makes-mp-offer-he-can-refuse. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ "Official Count Results -- Overall Status". New Zealand Ministry of Justice. 2008. http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/partystatus.html. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ Mt Albert by-election preliminary results | Elections New Zealand
- ^ Mana by-election official results | Elections New Zealand
- ^ http://www.elections.org.nz/study/news/te-tai-tokerau-by-election-preliminary-results.html
[edit] External links
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