Australia’s largest state will launch an investigation into cannabis prohibition laws, with one MP claiming legalizing weed could save the state billions of dollars.
A House of Lords inquiry would be the first of its kind to examine the social and economic impact of cannabis prohibition, and the impact on young people, Aboriginal, LGBTIQA+, regional, multicultural and lower socio-economic communities.
The review will also look at alternative approaches to the current legislation, which only allows cannabis to be used legally with a medicinal prescription.
Legalize cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham said the inquiry would look at the “true socio-economic costs and opportunities of cannabis legalisation”.
Government officials in NSW are considering the implications of legalizing cannabis as the push to decriminalize use of the drug continues to grow in Australia’s largest state (photo stock image)
Mr Buckingham, who will chair the inquiry, said NSW’s illicit cannabis market was being used as “rocket fuel” for the fast-growing organized crime group, arguing that legalizing the drug would stifle revenues.
“The inquiry will hear from experts in cannabis law reform, healthcare, crime, economists and will look at jurisdictions such as the ACT, US and Germany that have moved to a legalization regime,” he said.
‘Cannabis prohibition disproportionately impacts and criminalises regional, working-class, LGBT and Aboriginal communities – it’s time to see why.’
The motion was passed in parliament on Wednesday evening, with the support of the government and the Greens.
While the opposition opposed the survey, Liberal MP Scott Farlow acknowledged they did not have the figures.
While NSW Treasurer and MP Daniel Mookhey said the government welcomed the “opportunity to hear from experts”, he said further policy considerations regarding cannabis would be explored at the drugs summit due later this year.
He said the summit would work with “health and medical experts, police, drug user organizations, families and other stakeholders to build consensus on how this state deals with drug use and abuse.”
Green spokesperson for drug law reform and harm reduction Cate Faehrmann said it was “about time” the government considered the regulatory framework of a “legal cannabis market”.
Experts will examine the use of cannabis during a drug summit planned for later this year, as authorities continue to grapple with how the drug is consumed by users (photo stock image)
“It’s time, quite frankly, that we do a very far-reaching, thorough and detailed investigation into cannabis – not just into medical cannabis and not just into the very unfair laws around driving for medical cannabis patients,” she said.
NSW and ACT chief executive of advocacy and external relations Emma Maiden welcomed the research.
“Any opportunity to examine and change our unfair drug laws in NSW is always welcome, as is any positive change in the way we approach drug use and dependence,” she said.
“We know the system is unevenly applied, unfair, perpetuates stigma and increases harm. Further changes need to be explored and adopted.
“A Drug Summit in the NSW Parliament this year will be a crucial part of this reform journey. This will be an important way to build cross-party support for reform in the NSW Parliament and in the community.”