A workshop in two parts:
Enrol, Vote, be Heard – Electoral Commission Youth Advisors
Did you know that 96% of old people are enrolled, and only 61% of young people are enrolled? Do these people represent your views? Do you want them to decide your future? How about the young people you work with?
Enrolling and voting means that you can have your say on the issues that matter to you. If you’ve never voted before, we can talk you through how it works and why it matters (plus show that its easy!). The Electoral Commission Youth Advisors will introduce who and what you’ll be voting for – MPs, parties, and referendums.
How might this year’s cannabis referendum affect young people? – Alana Oakly, New Zealand Drug Foundation
This year we’ll all be voting in a national referendum which will leave many scratching their heads – whether or not cannabis should be legalised for adult use. The Drug Foundation has been working on the issue of public-health and evidence-based drug law reform for many years and we are excited that New Zealanders get to make this choice. But we’re also aware that many people aren’t across the issue yet. Nothing about cannabis law is straight forward! This workshop will cover the basics about why we’re having this referendum, and what the draft law actually says. Most importantly, we’re keen to get into an in-depth conversation about what legalisation might mean for young people. Will use by young people go up? Will mental health problems get better, or worse? What has happened in other countries? And how might law reform change how we talk to young people about cannabis.
This session was recorded at Involve 2020 during the COVID-19 global pandemic.