Prosecution24 March 2026verifiedCET-ZCSYAD

New Zealand's cannabis possession charges reach an eight-year high

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Ministry of Justice figures reported in March 2026 showed 3,438 people charged with possessing cannabis in 2025, up from 2,881 in 2024 and 2,287 in 2023, the highest number since a 2019 law change told police to consider a health-based response first. Of all convictions for cannabis offences, 82% came alongside charges unrelated to cannabis; 506 people were convicted of cannabis offences alone in 2025, against 387 in 2023.^[1]

Sources

Cannabis possession charges surge 50% in two years, hitting 8-year high (24 March 2026). Newstalk ZB.

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3 Group nearby reports Landrace growing areas Landrace growing regions Landrace accessions

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From Landrace.wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0. Places offset by about 500 m.

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Location accuracy: country only. The sources name no closer place; the dot marks the middle of New Zealand.-41.70, 172.92

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Sources

Where

The law there

Related reports

Cannabis charges fall slightly but imprisonments hold steady

Police shut a cannabis grow-house syndicate and seize five tonnes

Police destroy more than 10 tonnes of cannabis in Auckland grow-house raids

Police seize 270 kg of cannabis in a week-long trans-Tasman operation