Australia: Legalise Cannabis Party launches bill for personal use

The Legalise Cannabis Party in Australia has launched a ‘modest and responsible’ bill for personal use in three states.

This article was originally published by Cannabiz and is reprinted here with permission.

The Legalise Cannabis Party has introduced identical bills in three states as its MPs across Australia launch a coordinated push to legalise the personal use of cannabis.

The Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill 2023 will seek to legalise the personal consumption of cannabis in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.

It is understood to be the first time in Australian legislative history that the same bill will be introduced in three states on the same day.

The party described the legislation as ‘unprecedented’, with NSW Legalise Cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham adding it was a ‘modest and responsible’ first step.

Under the bill, adults will be permitted to “responsibly possess and grow small quantities of cannabis at home”.

The bill will also allow sharing between adults and carers to grow on behalf of others, the party said.

Legislation has been modelled, in part, on regulations introduced in the Australian Capital Territory in 2020.

READ MORE: Cannabis more accepted than tobacco among Australians – study

Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP Rachel Payne, said: “This Bill actions sensible and meaningful reform to end the criminalisation of people who consume cannabis. It’s time our governments reformed outdated laws, in line with community expectations.”

There have been over 700,000 arrests in Australia for cannabis-related offences since 2010, more than 90% for possessing or consuming cannabis, the party said.

“For too long cannabis laws have disproportionally criminalised young people, indigenous people and culturally diverse communities,” Payne added.

“These laws currently cause real harm to marginalised groups, and we should as a society come together to do something about it”.

The bill does not allow people under 18 to access cannabis or allow anyone impaired by cannabis to drive.   

Party officials said the bill will significantly reduce the cannabis black market, estimated to be worth $8 billion per year.

Legalise Cannabis Victorian MP David Ettershank said: “Cannabis laws make criminals of ordinary Australian consumers and perversely, create a huge illicit market run by real criminals. It’s time to regulate and educate.”

National Secretary of Legalise Cannabis Australia, Craig Ellis said: “An arrest for cannabis can have a massive impact on a young person’s life, negatively affecting their ability to get work, travel and source rental accommodation.

“This Bill is the first step to ending the unfair and damaging criminalisation of otherwise law-abiding people who choose to use cannabis.”

Recently-elected NSW Legalise Cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham described the push as a “nationally coordinated, modest and responsible first step toward the legal regulation of cannabis”.

“Our framework for regulation focuses on responsible adult use, maintains protections for children and ensures better public health outcomes,” he said.

“It’s time to take cannabis supply and quality control out of the hands of organised crime and make the needs of the community, patients and consumers a priority.”

WA Legalise Cannabis MP and vice president of the Federal Party, Dr Brian Walker, added: “I look forward to debating this bill in the coming months, and to giving the people a real alternative to the failed and discredited war on drugs.”

The Legalise Cannabis Party said will be the first of a three-stage process to responsibly legalise cannabis across the nation.

This article was originally published by Cannabiz and is reprinted here with permission.

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