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The Health Minister admits the country's drug laws are out of date.
Critics of New Zealand's drug legislation say it's not in line with other countries, which treat drug use as a health rather than a criminal issue.
A former drug squad detective Tim McKinnel has described the current laws as pointless.
Andrew Little told Morning Report the result of the 2020 cannabis referendum highlighted ongoing community fear about decriminalising drugs.
He says striking the right balance between regulating drugs that cause harm and those that don't remains a challenge.