· New Zealand
New Zealand tells police to consider health first
An amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act requires police to consider whether a health-based response would do more good than prosecution. Many possession cases now end in a warning or referral.
Index score
1318+5 points
Score by segment
| Segment | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession25% of the index | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Personal cultivation25% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Punishment & enforcement20% of the index | 3 | 4 | +1 |
| Sharing & gifting10% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Consumption10% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Legal access10% of the index | 0 | 0 | — |
Segments are scored from 0 to 10. New Zealand's scores have changed again since.