Cannabis Legalised in Australian Capital Territory

[Kaden_Nite]

The ACT has become the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise the possession, use and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis.

The laws passed the ACT Legislative Assembly this afternoon, allowing possession of up to 50 grams per person and a maximum of four plants per household.

They will come into effect from January 31, 2020.

The legislation conflicts with Commonwealth laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis.

And cannabis users have been warned there are still serious legal risks, including potential jail time, when growing or smoking cannabis in the ACT.

Cannabis remains a prohibited substance under Commonwealth law, and police officers in the ACT will retain the power to arrest and charge anyone with cannabis under those laws.

It will also be possible for the Commonwealth to overrule the ACT, and seek to have the laws struck out as inconsistent with its own legislation.

So what is allowed, and what isn't?
Any adult in the ACT will be able to grow two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four per household.

They will also be allowed to be in possession of up to 50 grams of dry cannabis, or 150 grams of wet cannabis.

Cultivating cannabis through a Canberra winter will not be easy though, as any Canberra gardener can attest.

Amendments suggested by the Greens to allow the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis were voted down, along with amendments providing greater allowances to those growing cannabis for medicinal purposes.

There also remain plenty of rules around when and where cannabis can be consumed.

It cannot be consumed in public, or anywhere near children, and will also have to be stored somewhere inaccessible to children.

Cannabis plants will have to be grown somewhere not accessible by the public, such as a nature strip or community garden.

Source: https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...se-personal-cannabis-use/11530104?pfmredir=sm

 

[S.J.B.]

Very cool!

 

[swilow]

It's great news, or at least a good first step. Let's hope it works out and spreads to other states ?

Cannabis remains a prohibited substance under Commonwealth law, and police officers in the ACT will retain the power to arrest and charge anyone with cannabis under those laws

That's the thing that concerns me. I dont think police will really do this, but it wouldn't surprise me if the law is repealed due to its inconsistency with federal law.

Interesting times ahead...

 

[TheBlackPirate]

Today Australia is already on the path to ending the prohibition of drugs. On January 31 this year the capital of Australia legalized marijuana sale and production.

Canberra becomes the first city in Australia to legalize marijuana
By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN


(CNN)The Australian capital Canberra will become the country's first city to legalize marijuana following a landmark vote Tuesday night.
Lawmakers in the Australian Capital Territory voted to pass a bill allowing people aged 18 or over to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use.
The new law is set to come into effect from January 31, 2020, state broadcaster ABC reported.

Under the new regulations, residents in the territory -- which is home to the capital -- will be able to legally possess up to 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of marijuana and cultivate up to two plants per person, or four per household.

The change makes the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) the first of Australia's six states and two main territories to legalize marijuana for personal use.
Drug laws differ depending on the state or territory. Under the ACT's current law, cultivating one or two cannabis plants or possessing 50g (1.76 ounces) of cannabis carries a possible 160 Australian dollar fine ($108), while possessing more than 50g (1.76 ounces) of cannabis carries a maximum 8,000 Australian dollar fine or two years in prison -- or both.

According to the Australian government, marijuana is the country's most widely-used illicit drug. In the 2017-2018 financial year, there were over 72,000 cannabis-related arrests made in Australia -- and 92% of those arrested were consumers.

ACT's new law conflicts with national drug laws enacted by Australia's Parliament which prohibit the possession of marijuana.
According to the ABC, it could be possible for those laws to overrule ACT's new law.

It's not the first time that ACT's laws have been in conflict with national laws. In 2013, the ACT legalized same-sex marriage -- but it was struck down by a decision by Australia's highest court, which ruled that the ACT legislation was inconsistent with the national law.

But attitudes are changing. In 2016, the Australian Parliament passed an amendment allowing marijuana to be legally grown for medical and scientific purposes for the first time in Australia.

In neighboring New Zealand, possessing marijuana for personal use is still illegal, although the country is set to hold a referendum on legalizing it next year
If New Zealand does legalize marijuana, it will be only the third country in the world after Uruguay and Canada to do so. Nine states in the United States and the District of Columbia also allow recreational marijuana use, and the drug has been decriminalized in many parts of Europe.

Canberra becomes the first city in Australia to legalize marijuana

edition.cnn.com

 

[barnes.henry]

The ACT has become the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise the possession, use and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis.

The laws passed the ACT Legislative Assembly this afternoon, allowing possession of up to 50 grams per person and a maximum of four plants per household.

They will come into effect from January 31, 2020.

The legislation conflicts with Commonwealth laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis.

And cannabis users have been warned there are still serious legal risks, including potential jail time, when growing or smoking cannabis in the ACT.

Cannabis remains a prohibited substance under Commonwealth law, and police officers in the ACT will retain the power to arrest and charge anyone with cannabis under those laws.

It will also be possible for the Commonwealth to overrule the ACT, and seek to have the laws struck out as inconsistent with its own legislation.

So what is allowed, and what isn't?
Any adult in the ACT will be able to grow two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four per household.

They will also be allowed to be in possession of up to 50 grams of dry cannabis, or 150 grams of wet cannabis.

Cultivating cannabis through a Canberra winter will not be easy though, as any Canberra gardener can attest.

Amendments suggested by the Greens to allow the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis were voted down, along with amendments providing greater allowances to those growing cannabis for medicinal purposes.

There also remain plenty of rules around when and where cannabis can be consumed.

It cannot be consumed in public, or anywhere near children, and will also have to be stored somewhere inaccessible to children.

Cannabis plants will have to be grown somewhere not accessible by the public, such as a nature strip or community garden.

Source: https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...se-personal-cannabis-use/11530104?pfmredir=sm

Really, this is a great move for Australia.