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Flight of the Kiwi : New Zealanders experiences of cannabis in Amsterdam while on their overseas experience (OE) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
Cannabis
consumption
and
travelling
share
a
number
of
similarities,
such
as
evoking
pleasure
or
anxiety
and,
like
in
the
title
used
to
reflect
this
thesis,
represent
the
experience
of
“flight”
for
the
“Kiwi”
(New
Zealander).
This
thesis
therefore
explores
both
the
experiences
of
cannabis
consumption,
a
flight
of
the
mind
and
travelling
a
flight
of
the
body.
The
aim
was
to
understand
how
New
Zealanders
experience
cannabis
in
Amsterdam
while
they
are
undertaking
a
working
holiday
based
in
the
United
Kingdom
(UK),
known
within
Aotearoa
New
Zealand
as
an
Overseas
Experience
(OE).
Given
Aotearoa
New
Zealand’s
current
political
debates
on
cannabis
control
and
the
upcoming
2020
public
referendum
on
legalising
the
substance,
this
thesis
provides
an
opportunity
to
explore
how
New
Zealanders
experience
cannabis
within
a
liberal
country
that
tolerates
the
sale
of
soft
drugs
in
licensed
premises,
while
growing
up
in
a
country
that
enforces
cannabis
prohibition.
Statistics
on
cannabis
use
illustrate
a
steady
rise
in
global
consumption,
however
majority
of
countries
still
implement
prohibition
as
a
method
of
control,
therefore
choosing
to
study
New
Zealanders
use
of
cannabis
in
a
country
without
any
legal
ramification
or
stigmatisation
for
personal
consumption
allowed
for
greater
transparency
and
in
depth
exploration.
Nine,
one-‐on-‐one,
in-‐depth
interviews
were
undertaken
with
New
Zealanders,
aged
between
18-‐30
who
were
living
and
working
in
London.
Interviews
were
recorded,
transcribed
and
analysed
using
Interpretive
Phenomenology
Analysis
(IPA).
Four
subordinate
themes
were
identified
within
the
data,
along
with
ten
sub-‐themes.
The
results
illustrate
the
sensible
and
structured
nature
cannabis
was
consumed
and
enacted
abroad.
Cannabis
was
not
the
sole
motivator
for
the
trip
to
Amsterdam
however
consuming
cannabis
to
reach
a
pleasurable
level
of
intoxication
was
intentionally
pursued
by
all
participants
whilst
in
Amsterdam.
In
order
to
reach
the
desired
state
participants
often
drew
from
previous
experiences
or
shared
knowledge
on
the
effects
of
cannabis
and
would
implement
certain
techniques
and
practices
to
ensure
they
did
not
reach
an
undesired
level
of
cannabis
intoxication.
Future
research,
with
a
diverse
and
larger
sample
would
provide
additional
insights
and
could
possibly
assist
in
the
potential
policy
change
and
implementation
within
the
country.
