It does seem very strange how differently we treat Covid-19 and drugs.

With Covid-19 we have come to the point where most people believe that the correct approach was (and still is) harm minimisation, with a reduction or removal of most mandates. With vaccination available and highly successful at reducing deaths, there is no longer a support for a policy of zero tolerance for covid in the community, even though covid can still be deadly for a number of people.

For drugs it seems to be the opposite where many people still support zero tolerance for possession of even small quantities of cannabis, which is still a criminal offence, even though a majority of New Zealanders (approximately 80%) born in the 1970s report using cannabis at least once, despite its illegal status. 

A harm minimisation approach would acknowledge that very few people die or suffer a significant adverse reaction from MDMA (for example). The vast majority of problems are due to something sold as "ecstasy" or "molly" containing a mix of drugs that the buyer is unaware of. Drug testing at music festivals is now permitted, so that is a small step forward, but the users themselves can still face criminal charges for possession.

A harm minimisation approach would mean accepting that drugs have been here for decades and there should be decriminalisation for drug users and where appropriate, regulation of the supply. Decriminalisation or legalisation of drug use would make it easier for users suffering from drug addiction to come forward and seek help.

But the problem is politics. Drug prohibition as part of a policy of "getting tough on crime" often seems to be a vote winner, even when a better approach to fighting crime might be taking the income from supplying drugs out of the hands of criminals.