Abe Gray | Wellington Central

Abe Gray | Wellington Central

I have lived in New Zealand for the last 18 years working as an educator and raising a family.  I have a Masters in Botany and worked for over a decade as a tutor and fill-in lecturer at the University of Otago before founding New Zealand’s only Cannabis Museum. My wife is a surgeon in training and this has meant our family has had to travel all across New Zealand for the last few years.  We are currently based in Wellington with our two young children, Judah (age 11) and Miriam (age 3).

As a botanist, I am passionate about the environment, and as a lifelong activist, I have seen the negative effects of poverty and the Drug War on our society.  TOP has real solutions to bring an end to these injustices and create a fairer New Zealand that is true to our 100% pure image.

Every election is important, but this is the most exciting election in my lifetime, because we have the opportunity to vote in a referendum to legalise the responsible adult use of cannabis. But a successful YES vote is only the beginning. Because the referendum is not technically binding, it will be up to the next Parliament to pass the bill into law, including the Select Committee process where changes will be made. To make sure that this truly becomes world leading legislation we need a heavy contingent of TOP MPs overseeing the process. There may even be scope for a suitably qualified MP to become our first Minister of Cannabis, and I am 100% available!