Preliminary numbers of the referendum result, reveal the people of New Zealand have voted against cannabis legalisation, reports the NZ Herald.

There are still around 17 per cent of votes still to be counted but the result seems clear with 53.1 per cent voting against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, revealed that she had voted yes to the cannabis reform in order to let the public decide and because she “did not want to see people in jail for its use”, reports the NZ Herald.
The results of the referendum were welcomed by the Say Nope to Dope campaign and the National Party with campaign spokesman Aaron Ironside saying, "It's good news for young people they are not going to be included in a social experiment. We can leave that to the Americans and Canadians."
Justice Minister Andrew Little said there would be a review of the drug law changes that came into effect in August of last year but that the government would not push to legalise or decriminalise cannabis after the public vote.
"The New Zealand voting public have made their decision. We have to respect that decision," he said.