In a bid to control drug reform in Australia, Labour backbencher Michael Pettersson has announced a private members bill to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of some illicit drugs in the Australian Capital Territory.
Police in Canberra have found a huge cannabis growing operation, spanning 6 rooms, in a house in Dunlop. Unsafe electrical outlets and huge grow tents were found at the home, with the number of plants being unknown.
A substantial grow house found in Canberra by police is estimated to be worth $550,000. The home in Dunlop contained over 200 plants and was said be a “well organised” grow house by police.
A year ago, a landmark bill was passed by Labour to legally allow ACT residents to grow up to two plants in their home, and to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis. Since then, what has changed, and has it changed for the better?
After a new law in the Australian Capital Territory allowed residents to grow up to four plants per household, or two per person, as well as up to 50 grams for personal use, residents are finding it hard to comply with confusing regulations.
Watch this shot video clip from ABC news about the legalisation of cannabis in the Australia Capital Territory. What does this mean for citizens and are local people completing completely with these new rules?
Although still illegal at the federal level, residents of the Australian Capital Territory will not have a criminal offence, or even be fined for using cannabis up to 50 grams. They can also grow up to two plants per person.
New laws which were passed in September, have now come into force. This means that Canberrans are now allowed to legally posse up to 50 grams of cannabis, as well as grow two cannabis plants in their home.
The laws passed the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, which will now allow residents possession of cannabis up to 50 grams per person and to legally grow two plants per person, or four per household.
The Australian Capital Territory has become the first jurisdiction within Australia to legalise cannabis for recreational use and the growing of cannabis in people’s homes, after an historic bill passed through assembly by the Labour party.
Kerrie-Ann Trembath Forster has lived with excruciating chronic pain for years and says doctors need to be more willing to prescribe medical cannabis to patients. The medicinal cannabis scheme in Canberra is struggling to find doctors keen to prescribe drug.
