The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has introduced a new policy decriminalizing possession of small amounts of eight specified drugs, shifting focus from criminal punishment to harm reduction. Despite some opposition, this change represents another positive step in Australia's evolving drug policy, which has seen recent moves like the legalization of psilocybin and MDMA for medical purposes.
On Saturday, a new policy decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs came into effect in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), encompassing the nation’s capital, Canberra, and surrounding areas. ACT is the first region in Australia to implement such a change.
For more news like this, download our free cannabis news app.
A year ago, lawmakers in the ACT approved a new policy introduced by the Labor Party’s Michael Pettersson. The new law eliminates criminal penalties for drug possession. Instead, the possession will result in a warning, fine, or participation in a drug prevention program.
Interested individuals can avoid a fine of 100 Australian dollars (about 64 USD) if they voluntarily choose to participate in the program.
The new policy applies to eight drugs, with specific possession limits established:
The law also reduces the maximum penalty for possession of drugs that have not been decriminalized to a maximum of six months imprisonment.
In response to the introduction of the new law, Pettersson wrote on Instagram: “Residents of Canberra understand that drug use is a health issue, and now our regulations reflect our values.”
When the law was adopted, Pettersson described it as a “reasonable approach to drug policy based on facts,” prioritizing public health over criminal punishment. However, not everyone was enthusiastic about the change. Senator Michaela Cash of the Liberal Party tried to block the change in the national parliament, expressing concern that the regulations would transform the nation’s capital into a “drug capital.”
In response to Cash’s criticism, Labor Party senator Tim Ayres said that if she wants to intervene in ACT policy, she should consider moving to the region and running for the legislative assembly.
ACT had decriminalized cannabis as early as the 1990s. In 2020, a law was also introduced legalizing the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use by adults. Adults can possess up to 50g of cannabis for personal use and cultivate up to 4 plants at home.
Pettersson emphasized that the previous policy regarding cannabis was an inspiration for the new, more comprehensive drug decriminalization law.
Despite resistance, many changes have been made to drug policy in Australia. Earlier this year, the government legalized psilocybin and MDMA for medical purposes, allowing access for people suffering from PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
While these substances have not been legalized for widespread use, psychiatrists who meet specific standards can legally prescribe them.
Certainly, the debate on the decriminalization and legalization of drugs in Australia will continue, but changes in the ACT are a significant step toward an approach focused on public health and harm reduction.
—
(Featured image by Social Estate via Unsplash)
DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.
This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.
First published in Fakty Konopne, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.
Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.
Berlin is launching a pilot project in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts to study the…
The Czech Constitutional Court overturned a previous ruling accusing Robert Veverka, former editor of Legalizace,…
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has declared the war on drugs a…
Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed a plan to legalize recreational cannabis by 2025. Projections estimate up…
The DEA just held its first procedural hearing on cannabis reclassification, although the focus was…
The Superior Court of Justice in Brazil has legalized the cultivation, processing, and sale of…