Politicians from ACT are informing Victorian MPs about the Territory’s cannabis laws. 

Victorian MP Fiona Patten is leading an inquiry into the use of cannabis in Victoria, which will hear first-hand evidence from ACT representatives.

The ACT passed laws in 2019 that regulate personal use and cultivation of the plant for personal use.

ACT politician Michael Pettersson has appeared to discuss his private members’ bill to regulate the personal use and cultivation of cannabis (or marijuana).

He was joined by Devin Bowles, ACT CEO Of the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Association, to comment on the territory’s experience regulating the drug.

Ms Patten says allowing adult use of cannabis in the ACT was a “major shift in government policy”.

“It is really important we hear from our interstate neighbours about how the new laws are operating as we look at the many different ways we could reform cannabis policy in this state,” Ms Patten said.

The inquiry has received over 1,400 submissions, and is expected to produce a final report  in August 2021. 

The submissions from advocacy groups including the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF) argue that unregulated marijuana use is a greater threat to individuals than a regulated supply.

ADLRF president Dr Alex Wodak said having to obtain cannabis via the black market, needlessly exposes young people to dealers of other, more harmful substances like cocaine and methamphetamine.

Dr Wodak said decades of research had found little evidence of serious harm from cannabis use, or on the life expectancy of those who use the medicinal herb compared with those who do not. 

“How can that be a good thing for young Victorians? If the only supply is the black market, some young Victorians will be sanctioned in ways that risk damaging their education, employment prospects, relationships, accommodation, relationship with their parents and right to travel,” Dr Wodak said.

“The general consensus is that, notwithstanding the frequent confident assertions that any liberalisation of policy would massively increase cannabis consumption and harm, reduction of punitive policy has not resulted in increased consumption. 

“Early evaluation of regulated recreational cannabis suggests that consumption in young people is unchanged but consumption by middle aged and older populations may have increased very slightly.”