Cannabis Legalisation in Australia – up in smoke?

What’s the deal with Cannabis in Australia?

It’s the one policy area where logic takes a back seat, and your postcode dictates whether you’re a free-spirited gardener or a hardened criminal. The federal government says one thing, the states another, and somewhere in between, Canberra is quietly blazing its own trail.

Canberra: The Slightly Green Oasis

In the nation’s capital, you can grow cannabis in your backyard, smoke it on your patio, and, legally live your best life. Since 2020, the ACT has allowed adults to possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis (or 150 grams wet) and cultivate two plants per person, with a cap of four per household. Good luck growing it out doors in a short summer though! It’s all part of a progressive health-based approach to drug use. The reasoning? Criminalising users doesn’t address the root causes of addiction or recreational use, it only creates a pipeline from the couch to the courtroom.

The Rest of Australia: The Fun Police

Venture outside the ACT, and the story shifts dramatically. In most states, possession of even a small amount of cannabis can lead to criminal charges. Sure, some areas offer “diversion programs” for first-time offenders, but the threat of legal repercussions looms large. Why? Well, the federal government maintains cannabis as a prohibited substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and many states cling tightly to this classification. This is despite many countries and states around the world often refusing to enforce or criminalise cannabis consumers – and lets be honest there’s a lot of benefit to treating cannabis as a health choice.

The Health Choice Debate

At its core, the cannabis conundrum comes down to this: Is cannabis use a personal health choice, or is it a criminal act? Advocates, or in my mind, legends, argue it’s no different from drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco or snorting copious amounts of sugar—all of which are legal despite well-documented health risks. Critics, however, warn that normalisation could lead to increased use, particularly among young people, and often those same critics are just regurgitating the same propagandist pipe dream of the Reagan era.

But here’s the kicker: cannabis is already widely consumed in Australia. According to the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, nearly 26% of Australians aged 18 and over have tried cannabis, and around 11.5% used it in the past year. So, are we really criminalising behaviour that’s already mainstream?

Medical Cannabis: The Grey Zone

Adding to the confusion is the growing acceptance of medicinal cannabis. Since 2016, Australians with a prescription have been able to access medicinal cannabis for conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, and nausea from chemotherapy. While this is a step in the right direction, the process is often bureaucratic and expensive, leaving many patients in the lurch.

What’s Next?

Australia’s cannabis laws are like a patchwork quilt stitched together by indecision. Some states are inching toward decriminalisation, while others dig in their heels. Meanwhile, public opinion is shifting—polls suggest increasing support for legalisation or at least decriminalisation is at a majority.

So, what’s the deal with cannabis in Australia? It’s complicated, inconsistent, and, frankly, a bit ridiculous. You can enjoy the freedom to grow and smoke in Canberra, but step into New South Wales with the same mindset, and you’re risking a criminal record.

Maybe it’s time for Australia to take a good, hard look at its cannabis laws and ask: does criminalisation really serve us, or are we just burning time and taxpayer dollars on a fight that’s already lost?