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Decriminalise cannabis and expunge convictions, cross-party report urges Victorian government Steve Jones CannaBiz Wednesday 19 Mar 2025 In a report tabled yesterday (Tuesday), the eight-strong Legislative Council legal and social issues committee concluded the government should “draw on the experience of the ACT” and adopt a “new approach” to cannabis regulation. The committee, comprising three Labor, three Coalition and two crossbench MPs – including Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne – also said Victorians should have previous convictions for possession expunged. The recommendations follow an inquiry into the Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill 2023, introduced by the Legalise Cannabis Party. Identical bills were tabled in New South Wales and Western Australia. The proposed legislation allows for the cultivation of up to six plants per residence and the possession of up to 50g of cannabis. Small amounts could also be gifted, but using cannabis in public places would be banned. The inquiry included a hearing last month where the committee heard from a range of experts, including Lambert Initiative academic director Iain McGregor and Robert Taylor from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Payne urged the government to act on the recommendations, again stressing how the ACT, which decriminalised personal use in 2020, has seen no increase in cannabis use. The report also found there had been no additional pressure placed on the health system, while police have been freed up to tackle more serious crime. “The ACT reforms saw a fall in the level of policing for personal use and possession of more than 90 per cent,” Payne said. “If Victoria follows and decriminalises small amounts, it means our police no longer have to waste their time, energy and resources policing personal cannabis possession. “According to the last AIHW National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 80 per cent of Australians believe possessing cannabis should no longer be a criminal offence. “A major finding of this report is that it’s time for ‘a different approach’ – stop criminalising people and focus on harm reduction.” In particular, Payne said young Australians, First Nations, LGBTQ+ and those from lower-socio economic groups are suffering the often damaging consequences of being charged for possessing and consuming small amounts of cannabis. “Redirecting people away from the criminal justice system will reduce pain and suffering for many,” she said. Payne’s fellow Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank said the report recognised that prohibition had not reduced the demand for cannabis or stopped criminal activity and called for cannabis use to be treated as a public health issue. Other recommendations in the report were that cannabis law reform should be progressed through a government bill rather a private member’s bill, and that any reform should be closely monitored and reviewed after five years. It proposed an amendment to the bill to prevent hydroponic cultivation, with plants to be grown in soil, whether in the ground, pots or in greenhouses. The government should also “investigate opportunities to improve access to plant matter testing”. The government has six months to respond to the recommendations. https://www.cannabiz.com.au/decriminalise-cannabis-and-expunge-convictions-cross-party-report-urges-victorian-government/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJT5A5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZAjieYYlDGYXDtmbeJEgbTOCxr_ObseDWpfwtrTtkkLjJQHEFbNj0HeQQ_aem_kcbAI51uXvn3zC31pArvlg
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