April 26, 202010 Cannabis Regulatory Authority established - This section establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Authority in the Public Service.
11 Main objective of Authority - (1) The main... Read more
April 26, 202010 Cannabis Regulatory Authority established - This section establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Authority in the Public Service.
11 Main objective of Authority - (1) The main objective of the Authority is to oversee regulation of the supply and use of cannabis in New Zealand in a way that promotes the well-being of New Zealanders; and reduces the multiple harms associated with cannabis use; and reduces the overall use of cannabis over time. (2) When performing its functions under this Act, the Authority must act in a way that furthers this objective. (3) The Authority must operate in a way that allows it to develop meaningful relationships with iwi and MÄori representatives with appropriate expertise to give effect to the required functions.
12 Functions The Authority will co-operate with any other law enforcement, regulatory, or statutory agency to perform the following functions, including (without limitation):
(a) establishing and monitoring the cannabis cultivation cap in accordance with section 22; and
(b) licensing and authorising controlled activities in the cannabis supply chain; and
(c) setting the criteria and conditions for licences and authorisations for controlled activities; and
(d) setting limits on the allowable levels of THC and other substances in cannabis and cannabis products; and
(e) monitoring and enforcing compliance with licence and authorisation conditions and criteria, including requirements for cannabis products to meet production, testing, and labelling standards, quality controls, and restrictions on the operations of retailers and consumption premises; and
(f) implementing decisions made in appeals from decisions of the Authority and the appeals authority; and
(g) administering and collecting excise taxes, levies, and fees charged as part of the cannabis regulatory regime; and
(h) monitoring and enforcing compliance with legislation and regulations permitting the private cultivation (home-growing) of cannabis and provisions relating to the possession and use of cannabis; and
(i) developing good practice guidelines for individuals who choose to grow cannabis at home in accordance with legislative and regulatory provisions; and
(j) conducting (directly or indirectly) public education campaigns toâ
(i) raise public awareness of the harms associated with cannabis use, including harms presented to children and young people by second-hand cannabis emissions, and promote responsible use and help-seeking behaviours; and raise public awareness of the law under this Act governing cannabis use in New Zealand, including what activities the law permits, restricts, and prohibits, and the effects of not complying with the Act; and
(k) collecting and analysing data and reporting on the dynamics of the sup- ply and demand for, and use of, cannabis in New Zealand, to ensure the regulatory regime is meeting its objectives; and
(l) promoting and supporting research focused on understanding and reporting on cannabis use in New Zealand and informing evidence-based approaches to preventative and harm-reduction activities; and
(m) regulating cannabis production and marketing; and
(n) regulating cannabis accessories and certain substances added to cannabis; and
(o) facilitating a whole of government approach to addressing non-compliance that is health based and focused on harm reduction, in particular in relation to young people.
13 Authority must prepare and publish national plan (1) The Authority must, not later than 6 months after the commencement of this Act, prepare and publish a national plan setting out how it will give effect to its main objective and the purposes of this Act.
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