Mr Gray's Start the Conversation group has attracted ``public ambassadors'' including actor Lucy Lawless and Millie Elder-Holmes, daughter of late broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes, to spark a national discussion about law reform.
As part of the confidence and supply agreement between Labour and the Greens, a referendum on legalising the personal use of cannabis will be held at or by the 2020 general election.
Start the Conversation was founded by Mr Gray and lawyer and writer Jin An Hirst to ``provide the New Zealand public with the full range of evidence and arguments required'' for people to make an informed decision in the referendum.
Other ambassadors included Olympic athlete and BMX champion Marc Willers and drug policy researcher Dr Julian Buchanan, the group said in a press release.
Mr Gray said yesterday an incorporated society was being formed and the group was having a general meeting in Dunedin this week.
A website had been updated to encourage people, including those who were not avid cannabis enthusiasts or did not agree with law reform, to discuss the issue and reach a middle ground.
``Now, with the referendum, there's this renewed impetus, because a lot of people are really excited about the election promises.''
Mr Gray said Start the Conversation was, to a point, the legacy of Helen Kelly, the union leader who became an advocate for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis. She died of lung cancer in 2016.
The plan for the group was to hold public events in Auckland in August with the ambassadors, and social media events to promote discussion.
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Comments
Supply some information on the effect of cannabis as a 'bad trip', as experienced by an Omarama man, treated in hospital.
The only evidence you have, that cannabis was the cause of this, is the ravings of an obvious lunatic. You really need to base your argument on more reliable evidence.
Hi Grizz. I am not arguing a position on cannabis. I agree with Abe that all sides should be heard. In this particular case a man became unwell, attributing it to cannabis use. He was treated at hospital.
Following on from this, people might like objective information, eg in what circumstances can cannabis cause a bad reaction, is black market product ever 'spiked' or adulterated, if so, is this a reason for decriminalization, since supply is controlled by organised crime?
Those are the issues raised, whether or not the man is a 'raving lunatic'.