On the announcement of the ACT (Australian Capital Territory’s) successful vote to introduce legislation legalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis and allowing individuals to grow two plants we initially had a flurry of some quite ill-informed and unpleasant comments by govt ministers. We’ve now moved onto the threatening political letter stage. As always, democracy is fine until the vote doesn’t go your way.
“I have serious concerns the ACT’s legislation will result in further health harms and exacerbate mental health issues, particularly for those who have a family history of mental health disorders,”
The Australian Broadcasting corporation reports
A row is brewing between the ACT and Federal Government over controversial moves to legalise cannabis in Canberra from early next year.
Key points:
- Possessing, growing and smoking cannabis will be legal in the ACT from early next year
- The Federal Government is unhappy with the legislation, questioning it on multiple fronts
- Health Minister Greg Hunt wants to see what evidence the ACT considered before the legislation was passed
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has penned a letter to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, calling on him to produce any evidence he considered before supporting the legislation, regarding the health impacts of cannabis.
The ACT Government last month passed legislation legalising possessing, smoking and growing small amounts of cannabis from early next year.
Adults can possess up to 50 grams of dry cannabis and grow two plants.
The passage of the laws appeared to take many within the Federal Government by surprise, and prompted a strong response, with some senior Government ministers labelling it “crazy” and suggesting the ACT Government was spending “too much time smoking hooch”.
Mr Hunt wrote to Mr Barr this week detailing his concerns around the potential health impacts of the legislation, and querying how his Government came to support the private members bill.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-13/federal-government-wants-to-see-evidence-on-cannabis/11597666
