A medicinal cannabis patient has had a book he ordered about the plant seized by Australian Border Force (ABF) in a move he described as “weird’ and “overzealous”.
John Reeves, who runs the Medical Cannabis Users Association of Tasmania, ordered The Cannabis Encyclopedia online. First published in 2015, the book is available via a number of Australian internet retailers.
However, instead of taking delivery of what is described on Amazon as “the definitive guide to medical marijuana cultivation and consumption”, he was served a notice by the ABF informing him it had been seized in Victoria as it was classified as ‘objectionable goods’ under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.
Reeves told the Mercury: “It’s a bit weird. It’s just an overzealous interpretation [of the regulations].”
He pointed out the book is freely available on the internet, adding “we’re not talking about hijacking planes or anything”.
Under the rules, it is prohibited to import publications that “promote or incite the misuse of a drug” without the permission of the classification board.
Reeves is planning to ask the ABF to review the decision. His lawyer, Fabiano Cangelosi, said there was “absolutely no basis for the seizure of this book from a man who is permitted legally to use cannabis”.
A spokesman for the ABF declined to comment.