Recently, the perception of cannabis has changed. With many countries turning to decriminalising and legalisation of cannabis, change occurring in NZ appears imminent.

It seems a not too far-fetched idea to think of a greater loosening of laws here. The 2020 referendum saw 50.7% of people opposed to legalisation and 48.4% in favour - the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill was only narrowly defeated. Conversation around policy reform was limited, when this is critical for the future of our community. I feel not enough was done to facilitate critical conversation around policy reform. As a community, we need to have these tough conversations. It’s best to prepare ourselves today for the societal changes of tomorrow.

Cafe Bliss creates a different cafe experience based on a hypothetical situation in which cannabis has been fully legalised in New Zealand. It explores the utilisation of this product to maximise benefits, focusing on aspects of consumption, economy, health and community. Cafe Bliss specialises in edibles for medicinal purposes. I’ve experienced daily chronic spasm after a stroke at an early age.

Despite cannabis not being a cure, it offers relief. The goal of my project is to spark conversation on these tricky topics with a responsible approach to what may be a concerning topic for some.