In all of the countries where cannabis use is legally allowed there has not been an increase in the number of people who use it.

Public health messaging is much easier because people can be honest about their use. This will mean better outcomes for the millions of Australians who currently consume cannabis.

This is an important question and one lots of people are concerned about.

The most recent clinical research published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, “ Influence of Cannabis Use on Incidence of Psychosis in People at Clinical High Risk”, concluded that there is no significant association between cannabis use and psychosis.

And when it is not illegal we can invest in better education about cannabis and any cannabis related harms.

Answer- While we continue to advocate for changes to the roadside drug testing regime, our bill will not change the law in relation to cannabis and driving.

The ACT found that after changing their laws there was no increase in road accidents involving cannabis use.

Yes! 78% of Australians believe that cannabis use and possession should not be a crime and every year that number increases.

This reflects a growing understanding of the potential benefits of law reform and a recognition that current policies are not effectively addressing the issue.

As we said, cannabis is very popular in Australia with over 2.4 million people regularly consuming it.

It is estimated that Australians spend about $14 billion dollars a year on cannabis. That money goes into the hands of criminals.

Allowing adults to grow their own and share with friends and those they care for, will definitely make a big dent in the illegal market.

It would significantly reduce the burden on the criminal justice system.

In 2020-21 nearly 60,000 cannabis users were arrested in Australia!

About a third of all charges heard in the Magistrates Court are for the possession of a drug. Cannabis accounts for nearly half of these charges.

• In 2020–21, cannabis accounted for 52% of all national drug seizures.
• In 2019-20, nearly half of all drug-related arrests (47 per cent) were for cannabis.

By removing personal cannabis use-related offences from the equation, law enforcement can focus on more serious crimes, and we can redirect resources towards more pressing issues.

No people will have to consume it in a private place.

It is quite similar to the model in the ACT but with a few differences.

The ACT does not allow for people to share with friends and people they care for. This means that anyone who consumes cannabis and can’t grow at home has to interact with the illicit market.

It is impossible to legally obtain seeds in the ACT. Under our Bill they can be shared.

The ACT only allows two plants to be grown at home and they must be grown outside. We believe that growing six plants is more reasonable and realistic. We also do not restrict growing to outside recognising that many people may not be able to grow outside because of the weather or where they live.

Our bill simply allows adults to:

• Use cannabis in a private place,
• Possess up to 50 grams in a public place (about a cup full),
• Grow six plants at home
• Share small amounts of cannabis with friends and people they care for.

A lot actually.

It is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia and the third most commonly used drug after alcohol and tobacco.

According to the most recent government health survey, conservatively, eight million adults have used cannabis at least once and more than 11% of Australians use it regularly. About 2.4 million Australians regularly use cannabis today.

The simple answer is - it’s time.

Prohibiting cannabis use has failed miserably. Despite decades of prohibition and the use of criminal sanctions, anyone can get their hands on illicit cannabis. Criminals rake in billions of dollars from sales of illicit cannabis whilst our governments spend tens of millions enforcing prohibition - money which the state could be investing in our communities. Cannabis is extremely popular amongst Australians and is enjoyed by people of all professions and all walks of life.

Maybe the better question is why was it made illegal in the first place?