The Legalise Cannabis Party (LCP) has introduced identical bills in three states as its MPs across Australia launched a coordinated push to legalise personal use.
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.
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 It’s time our governments reformed outdated laws, in line with community expectations.”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 illicit cannabis 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.”
Buckingham described the push as a “nationally coordinated, modest and responsible first step towards 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.”
LCP said the bill will be the first of a three-stage process to responsibly legalise cannabis across the nation.
