In Australia, 3 states present their plans to legalize cannabis

The leaders of three states in Australia - Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia - simultaneously introduced bills on June 20 to promote the regulation of adult-use cannabis.

Cannabis remains illegal under federal law in Australia, although’a growing number of cities and states legalized the recreational use of cannabis.

Rachel Payne, MP for Victoria, Jeremy Buckingham, MP for New South Wales, and Brian Walker, MP for Western Australia, have introduced a three-part bill in their respective parliaments that would end cannabis prohibition in those states.

The Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill 2023 would allow adults who are legally in possession of cannabis to offer it to another adult in these jurisdictions. It would only allow access by people aged 18 and over, and would not change the offence of selling cannabis.

The proposed legislation would allow adults to possess and cultivate small quantities of cannabis at home, a text similar to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) bill that came into force in 2020.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly has passed historic measures, paving the way for cannabis possession and cultivation by people aged 18 and over from January 31, 2020. The ACT was the first state or territory in the country to legalize cannabis for adult use and plans to further decriminalize drugs.

Reaction from Legalise Cannabis

Several members of the Legalise Cannabis applauded the bill's announcement and said they were simply doing what their constituents wanted.

Victorian MP David Ettershank told ABC Radio Melbourne that Australians agree it's time to reform cannabis laws. «The majority of Victorians support the regulation of cannabis and many of them consume cannabis regularly,» he said.

Jeremy Buckingham, MP Legalise Cannabis Party NSW and former Greens MP, said it was the first coordinated attempt to legalize cannabis in the country.

«The bill will allow households to grow up to six plants, give and share that cannabis, and trade the seeds,» Buckingham said.

«The Greens and Liberal Democrats already support our approach... and now it's time for Labor to act in WA, Victoria, NSW and nationally,» he added.

Rachel Payne, Member of Parliament for Legalise Cannabis Victoria, said the bill would put state governments «on the right side of history when it comes to cannabis law reform».