Australian Senate Rejects Bill to Legalize Cannabis

The Australian Senate has rejected the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023, which proposed a national framework for cannabis legalization, including regulated retail, home cultivation, and a dedicated oversight agency. Proponents, led by Senator David Shoebridge, highlighted public demand and international successes, however, they were outnumbered by opponents with questions over effectiveness and data.

The Australian Senate has halted progress on the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023, voting 13 to 24 against continuing the debate.

Introduced by Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge in August 2023, the bill sought to establish a national framework for the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Australia. Despite this setback, the discussion highlighted critical perspectives on the potential benefits and challenges of legalization.

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Key Proposals Brought Before the Australian Senate

The bill brought before the Australian Senate proposed to:

• Set the legal age for access at 18
• Permit households to cultivate up to six cannabis plants
• Establish “cannabis cafés” as retail and outdoor consumption spaces
• Create a regulatory body, the Australian National Cannabis Agency, to oversee production, retail licensing, and a registry of cannabis varieties

The bill rejected by the Australian Senate also included provisions to exempt Indigenous Australians from licensing fees.

In his closing remarks, Senator Shoebridge emphasized public demand for legalization, noting its potential to reduce harm associated with the illicit cannabis market.

“We see so many positives in legalizing cannabis,” he said, advocating for a model that avoids involvement from “big pharma, tobacco, and alcohol” while prioritizing evidence-based regulation.

Shoebridge pointed to international examples, such as Canada and parts of Europe, as models for developing a balanced legalization framework. Proponents argued that legalization could reduce harm, create safer consumption spaces, and undermine the illicit market.

Opposing Views and Data Discrepancies at the Australian Senate

Opponents from the Australian Senate, such as Senator Paul Scarr, raised concerns about the effectiveness of legalization in combating organized crime. Citing a Deloitte study on Canada’s cannabis market, Scarr claimed that up to 52% of cannabis sales in Canada still occur in the illicit market, linking this to ongoing criminal activity.

However, recent data from Statistics Canada paints a different picture. According to the 2023 Canadian Cannabis Survey, 73% of cannabis users reported purchasing from legal sources, while only 3% to 5% used illicit sources. These findings suggest growing trust in regulated markets over time, challenging Scarr’s assertions.

What’s Next?

Despite the setback delivered by the Australian Senate, Shoebridge and his party have expressed their determination to continue advocating for cannabis legalization in Australia. With growing public support and international examples to draw from, the Australian Senate debate is far from over.

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(Featured image by The Australian Senate (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr)

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