By Mr David Ettershank, MP
Legalise Cannabis Victoria will bring the debate on legalising cannabis back to Victoria’s Parliament in late August, because thousands of people are needlessly being funnelled into the criminal justice system.
Member for Melbourne’s Western Metropolitan Region and Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank said there had been more than 700,000 arrests in Australia for cannabis-related offences since 2010, and more than 90 per cent of the arrests were just for possessing or consuming the plant.
“The reason why countries like Germany, Switzerland, Canada and South African have legalised cannabis is because prohibition results in people unnecessarily coming into contact with the criminal justice system – with police, courts and even jails.” he said.
“The most likely age group to use cannabis in Australia is the 18- to 24-year-olds and an arrest can hurt a young person’s access to employment, travel and housing. Sadly, the consequences of one arrest can change the course of a life.
“In Victoria, First Nations people are eight times more likely to be arrested on a cannabis charge, and half as likely as other Australians to get a caution. Low-income, culturally diverse, LGBTQ+ and regional people are also over-represented in cannabis-related arrests.
“Victoria’s cannabis laws are causing real harm to vulnerable and marginalised people. Is this really a war on drugs, or a war on working-class people?”
Mr Ettershank said that in jurisdictions where cannabis was legalised, arrest rates fell dramatically.
“The Australian Capital Territory is the only Australian jurisdiction to have legalised cannabis,” he said.
“The rate of cannabis use in the ACT is lower than the rest of Australia. Cannabis use has remained stable since the law was changed. In 2022–2023, 8.7 per cent or people reported using cannabis in the previous 12 months, consistent with use since 2007 which has ranged between 8.4 per cent and 10.5 per cent.
“Cannabis-related driving offences have also not increased since legalisation.”
Mr Ettershank said support for decriminalising cannabis was at an all-time high.
“80% of Australians want cannabis decriminalised, according to the latest AIHW National Drug Strategy Household survey,” he said. “Other surveys have revealed that one in three Australians over 14 years have tried cannabis and more than 10 per cent of the population use it regularly.
“Another reason to legalise is to stop organised crime from profiting.
“Organised crime knows that cultivating cannabis is a lucrative business. The profits can then be redirected into importing hard drugs and firearms. Legalise cannabis and you cut the cashflow to criminals.
“Legalising also frees up police and court resources, so officers can focus on offences such as domestic violence and assaults.”
Mr Ettershank said legalising would include government regulating cannabis, and funding cannabis research and health education.
“We are in favour of people being able to have a few pot plants, but we also want a cannabis industry that is properly regulated and taxed. We then want those taxes directed to health education and health research.
“And we want to bring down the cost of medicinal cannabis so people using it to treat chronic pain, cancer, MS and insomnia will pay less for their medication.
“That is why my fellow Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne and I are bringing the cannabis debate back to the Victorian Parliament.”
