Page 498 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Madam Assistant Speaker, in summary, this bill seeks to reduce the unnecessary harms that Canberrans may encounter when using cannabis in small quantities. While the evidence does show that cannabis can affect mental health, the possession of cannabis must be viewed as a health issue, not a criminal one. By doing so, we can reduce the effort and resourcing needed to police this substance in small quantities.
The ACT Assembly is charged with making laws for the territory. We can make this important reform, which is consistent with the operation of the commonwealth law. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (3.40): I rise today to support this bill because I believe that our current approach to individuals possessing, cultivating or using a small amount of cannabis is wrong. We need to change that approach, and this bill does that. I thank Mr Pettersson for bringing it forward.
Let me make it clear that I do not condone drug use. I do not. And I do not condone the use of cannabis. I am not sure that many members in this place do condone it. But we can, and we should, be realistic that cannabis use occurs.
Nearly 30,000 Canberrans have used cannabis in the past 12 months. I believe it is possible that we can take the position of not encouraging cannabis use while also not criminalising the possession, cultivation and use of small amounts of cannabis. Moreover, there are benefits in taking this position and approach. This is the point of the bill.
Yes, there are risks with taking any drug. I acknowledge that there can be short and long-term health impacts for some individuals. These are very serious, and I take these very seriously. But the thing is that by reducing the stigma and removing the notion of criminal prosecution we can have more, and more open, discussions about cannabis use, the risks associated with it, and the support that people can receive.
There has been a lot of conversation and debate in this place about serious and organised crime. Allowing cultivation at home can, I hope, reduce reliance on the serious and organised crime industry and instead, of policing focusing on individuals who have minor cannabis possession, policing can be redirecting their resources, including to something like serious and organised crime.
I support this bill because our current approach has been ruining people’s lives. We have heard that from Mr Pettersson and from other colleagues speaking in support of this bill in this chamber today. People with small amounts of cannabis who do not pay fines have been criminally convicted. This is something that stays with them their whole lives. It affects their employment and it affects their travel. I believe that this level of response to people’s actions—these consequences—is disproportionate.
Madam Assistant Speaker, the approach we have currently is not working. I do believe that it is creating more harm than it is reducing. It needs to change, and this bill does that.
Debate (on motion by Mr Rattenbury, by leave) adjourned to the next sitting.
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