12. Question No. 12—Prime MinisterHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 12—Prime Minister12. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes particularly this Government's investment in Customs to tackle drugs which saw a record 3 tonnes of drugs stopped at our borders in 2019. This is also going to prevent harm—a harm reduction worth about $3 billion. This is in addition to measures like recruiting more police and restricting access to firearms which I encourage members across the House to support.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she support legalising recreational cannabis?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As the member well knows I've taken the position that it's my job to ensure that New Zealanders have information they can rely on in this referendum and that they make their decision on their own but with the best information possible. That's the role I'll play.Hon Paula Bennett: Has she seen the statement by Duncan Garner that it is a pathetic cop-out from the Prime Minister" that she is not confirming her position on legalising recreational cannabis?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think he may have actually even said it to me. I maintain the position that I have—that it is actually up to every New Zealander to place their vote and their vote will be as good as my vote but my job is to make sure that they have the best information possible. I've asked my Chief Science Advisor to play a role in that and I'll maintain that position.Rt Hon Winston Peters: He's even more stupid than you are.SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Prime Minister will stand withdraw and apologise.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: It seems like the most experienced and the least experienced members are making the same mistake today.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she support the wording of the referendum question being a specific reference to legalising recreational cannabis in order to avoid confusion with medicinal cannabis?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think there is value in making it clear that laws have already been changed around medicinal cannabis and we wouldn't wish to confuse the situation.Chlöe Swarbrick: Can the Prime Minister confirm that New Zealanders will be able to vote on whether they choose to legalise and control cannabis as per the draft bill come this year's general election on 19 September?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes and of course what we prepared is a draft bill so that there will be that full information available to members of the public—that if they support the bill that is the legislation that at least three parties in this House have said that they will then support to enact.Hon Paula Bennett: Is one of the main reasons her Government is holding a referendum on legalising recreational cannabis because she doesn't believe people should be imprisoned for cannabis possession or use?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It's because we believe New Zealanders should have their say on this issue.Hon Paula Bennett: So one of the main reasons in the Cabinet paper was that they believed that they should not be imprisoned. Can she confirm then that the number of people in New Zealand convicted and sentenced to imprisonment solely for cannabis possession and use in the 2017-18 year was one person?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I've read that Cabinet paper and whilst it is not in front of me now I can tell the member that one of the primary reasons noted in that paper was harm minimisation and the reduction of cannabis use. That is one of the goals. It is up to the public to determine whether or not they believe that is the best way to reduce cannabis use in New Zealand."