Outdated and in need of replacement

That's the message from more than 25 health and social organisations, calling on the Government to treat drug use as a health issue, rather than a criminal one.

They've written an open letter to Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern demanding the replacement of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Victoria University criminologist Fiona Hutton says we can't keep pedaling redundant policies.

She says people recognise that what we're doing right now is neither reducing harm, nor addressing particular issues.