MJ moment

New Zealand voters have rejected a referendum to legalize marijuana, final results released by the government on Friday show. While polls closed on October 17, New Zealand does not complete its count for ballot questions on Election Day. Preliminary results published last month showed the measure trailing by a notable margin, but so-called “special votes” still had to be counted before the outcome was finalized. Those roughly 480,000 remaining votes did not move the needle far enough in favor of reform, however, the final data released by the government on Friday afternoon local time showed. The referendum ended up falling short by a 48.4 percent for to 50.7 percent margin. The preliminary result on October 30 had the measure trailing 46 percent to 53 percent. Special votes came from citizens who were abroad, people who recently registered, those serving prison sentences of fewer than three years and students attending schools in districts outside of where they’re registered to vote. Polls heading into the election showed mixed results. A poll released by the Helen Clark Foundation and the New Zealand Drug Foundation in September found 49 percent support for the referendum and 45 percent opposition. A separate survey from August showed just 39…

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Source : New Zealand Voters Narrowly Reject Nationwide Marijuana Referendum In Final Vote Tally

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