ALCP Immigration Policy Announcement

Reform is needed to New Zealand's immigration laws, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) says.

The party has called for cannabis convictions to be removed as a barrier to immigration.

ALCP Leader Julian Crawford said tourists and those making visa applications should also be able to hide their cannabis convictions.

"The fact that someone has a conviction for cannabis in a foreign jurisdiction should not prevent them gaining residency or citizenship," Mr Crawford said.

"Tourists and students with cannabis convictions should also be allowed into the country."

Cannabis is rapidly becoming socially acceptable and these changes to immigration law would streamline immigration particularly for people coming from countries with draconian drug laws.

Compensation and an official pardon should be issued to anyone deported for historical cannabis convictions, including Gunther Schier whose whole family were deported to Germany after having settled in New Zealand for many years. (www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00088.htm)

ENDS

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