David Shoebridge, Greens NSW Senate Candidate and Greens candidate for Page Kashmir Miller visited Nimbin, the home of the annual Mardi Grass Festival, on Monday to call for the legalisation of cannabis.
Cannabis has been legalised for recreational use in many countries around the world including the US, Mexico, Canada, South Africa and in Australia the ACT. It is estimated that about 36 per cent of people in Australia have tried cannabis at some point in their lives and approximately 11.6 per cent have used it in the last 12 months according to 360edge.co.au.
They said that decades of failed policy has seen state and national police fighting a damaging and futile war against a weed.
‘The reality is that many people in our community use cannabis and our health-based approach meets that reality,’ Ms Miller said
‘By legalising cannabis, we can establish a regulated industry which will raise $4.4 billion in revenue that can be used to build schools, hospitals and help with the recovery of the climate catastrophe facing the Page community.’
The Greens say if they gain the balance of power in the federal parliament they will use it to legalise cannabis on a national level.
‘The greatest harm from Australia’s current cannabis laws comes from the police, courts and jails that criminalise cannabis users and at the same time empower organised crime,’ Mr Shoebridge said.
‘Much of the rest of the world has moved on to legalise cannabis and it’s high time Australia did the same.’
They were joined at the Nimbin Town Hall by Northern Rivers musician and activist Neil Pike who uses medicinal cannabis.
‘Cannabis is a lot more useful than panadol in relieving the aches and pains,’ Mr Pike said.
‘But if I need to drive into town that means I’d have to abstain for days to ensure the police couldn’t charge with a positive roadside test. It makes things really difficult’.
Oh Yes
I speaking for the ultra conservative far right wing. Just legalise it already.
It was banned to popularise wood pulp paper over hemp.
Having it illegal just funds criminal gang.
Nobody cares if the hippies get stoned.
The main problem here is calculating the level of THC intoxication as currently used by police.
Even medical canaboil prescription cases are frightened every day, especially when driving.
If tested positive by police the implications are dire, even if they are way under the impairment level.
Currently even just a trace = positive and immediately you are classed as a criminal !
(Try that senario with an accident claim on your insurance policy.)
But when cannabis level can be accurately tested – indeed why not legalise ?
Police can easily detect a driver’s THC levels. If they are doing 20 in a 60 zone, they’re stoned.
If the only way weed is going to be legalised is under a policy of tax collection you won’t be able to grow your own it will be controlled by the ato.