Prime Minister's Crime Prevention Action Group recommend cannabis 'misdemeanour' rather than criminal offence. Ironically the report is made available while beehive protest is in progress. Cabinet Minister Tuariki Delemare starts uproar by stating his belief that the law should change. 13 MPs admit to having tried marijuana.
Prosecution eventually fails to produce evidence and charges are dismissed.
NZ Media fail to notice that Govt is due to respond to Health Committee. No one steps forward to defend the iniquitous legislation. Polls show that at this point support for Greens rockets, while National Party crashes. Justice Minister Ryall caught out fibbing about cannabis mental health casualties on National Radio. Forced to apologise.