Australia to legalize medical cannabis

Update of 02/25/2016: with no surprises, Australia legalizes medical cannabis

Legislators met yesterday to legalize cultivation medical cannabis in Australia, in a country known for its zero tolerance and heavy penalties for illegal drugs.

The government has presented its bill to Parliament, which will have to amend it. Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 and create a licensing system for the cultivation of medical cannabis. Cannabis is currently illegal in Australia, with a few exceptions in certain states.

«This government understands that some Australians suffering from serious illnesses could find certain uses for cannabis, and we want to enable access to the most effective medical treatments possible,» Health Minister Sussan Ley told Parliament.

The bill is guaranteed to pass, with the opposition party immediately expressing its support.

The government announced that the proposed amendment would meet Australia's international obligations to ensure the production, processing and distribution of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes only.

A government survey of 24,000 Australians found in 2013 that 69% of respondents supported a change in the law to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes.