Three states in Australia are pushing for cannabis for adult use

On June 20, leaders simultaneously introduced legislation to three state parliaments in Australia – Victoria, NSW and Western Australia – to boost adult use of cannabis.

Cannabis remains illegal under federal law in Australia, although increasing numbers of city and state governments have legalized recreational use of cannabis, creating a checkerboard pattern of cannabis laws. Do you recognize what you see in the US?

Victoria Cannabis MP Rachel Payne, NSW Cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham and WA Cannabis MP Dr. Brian Walker, introduced the three-pronged bill into their respective legislatures that would end cannabis prohibition in those states.

The Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill 2023 would allow adults who lawfully possess cannabis to gift it to another adult in those jurisdictions. It would only allow access for those over the age of 18 and would make no changes to the crime of selling cannabis.

The proposed legislation would allow adults to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis at home and is similar to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) bill that came into force in 2020.

The ACT Legislative Assembly has passed landmark measures opening the way for individuals 18 years and older to possess and cultivate cannabis beginning January 31, 2020. ACT was the first state or territory in the country to legalize cannabis for adult use. Others followed.

Legalize Cannabis Australia was formerly the HEMP party (Help End Marijuana Prohibition). Its policy focuses on the re-legalization of cannabis for personal, medicinal and industrial use in Australia.

Reaction of MEPs to the legalization of cannabis

Several cannabis legalization lawmakers welcomed the bill’s announcement, saying they were simply doing what their constituents wanted.

Victorian MP David Ettershank told ABC Radio Melbourne that the people of Australia agreed that now is the time to reform cannabis laws. “The majority of Victorians support the regulation of cannabis, and a large number of Victorians … use cannabis on a regular basis,” he said.

NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham, a former Green Party MP, said it was the country’s first coordinated attempt to legalize cannabis.

“The bill…will allow households to grow up to six plants, gift and share that cannabis, and trade seeds,” Buckingham said.

“We already have the Greens and Liberal Democrats backing our move… and now it’s time for Labor to act in WA, Victoria, NSW and nationally,” he said.

The Guardian reports that this is the first joint push by the three state governments.

Rachel Payne, MP for Cannabis Legalization in Victoria, said the bill would put state governments on the “right side of history when it comes to cannabis law reform”.

What adult cannabis use could bring to Australia

Legalizing marijuana could be a major economic boon for Australia.

Western Australia in particular could reap the benefits of legal cannabis sales, according to a new study.

ABC Radio Perth reports that the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Western Australia, found that cannabis legalization could bring Western Australia $243.5 million a year in the first five years.

Currently, cannabis remains illegal in Australia, with penalties varying from state to state. In Western Australia, according to the Guardian, “[f]Penalties range from $2,000 to $20,000 and are punishable by up to two years in prison [law enforcement] may invite the individual to a counseling session (one for adults, two for children) at their own discretion.”

The new law, which is being introduced in three other states, could help change that.