Not even 24 hours has passed before Australia’s Home affairs minister decides he isn’t having any truck with the ACT and their new highly sensible non corporate approach to cannabis legislation. The legislation, is in his words, is”unconscionable”. Our Dutton image illustrates the centralized power he holds, so if he doesn’t like something it’s unlikely it’ll stay on the books long.
We won’t comment on his comments ! We expected a little longer before the Federal government came back on the vote but what with climate change, a slowing economy and another looming war in the middle east one must always find scapegoats closer to home to distract the masses.
The New Daily report
The federal government is considering challenging ACT laws legalising the recreational use of cannabis.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has described the new laws as unconscionable.
“I think it might be trendy for the ACT government to go down this path, and they’ll say they’re enlightened and progressive and all the rest of it,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio on Thursday.
“But I think it’s dangerous.
“Christian Porter is having a look at it at the moment.”
Mr Porter, the federal attorney-general, previously indicated the Commonwealth was not weighing a legal challenge.
“This is a matter for the ACT, but where Commonwealth laws apply they remain enforceable,” he told AAP on Wednesday.
The laws allow residents over 18 to possess up to 50 grams and grow two plants.
Under existing laws, people with up to 50 grams or two plants for personal use face fines.
If paid within 60 days, it won’t appear on someone’s criminal record.
ACT’s chief minister has shrugged off concerns Canberrans will be targeted by federal prosecutors when the new scheme comes into effect next January.
The territory’s police have been balancing the overlap with Commonwealth for nearly three decades, Andrew Barr says.
“Does anyone seriously think the Commonwealth DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) is going to spend all of their time, or a considerable amount of their time, prosecuting individuals in the ACT for the possession of less than 50 grams of cannabis?” he told ABC’s Radio National on Thursday.
“It’s one thing for police to arrest someone, it’s another thing to successfully prosecute someone.”
The existence of the ACT legislation is a defence if people are charged under commonwealth laws, Mr Barr says.
“My advice to everyone, is that this is an evolution not a revolution,” he said.
The territory’s shadow attorney-general Jeremy Hanson still thinks it’s sending the wrong message, citing research showing marijuana’s link to psychosis.
Mr Hanson is concerned it will lead to more drug driving and doesn’t believe the laws are enough of a deterrent.
But he doesn’t expect the federal government to test the overlap in the courts.
“A greater concern is an individual out there thinking they’re doing the right thing, thinking they’re doing something legal and finding themselves being charged with a commonwealth offence,” he told Sky News.
“The reality is we had a pretty good regime up until yesterday, it’s not like people were being thrown into jail for cannabis use holus bolus.”
Source: https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/act/2019/09/26/dutton-feds-act-weed-laws/
The normal world is very engaged by the bill passing
The Guardian
Australian Capital Territory votes to legalise cannabis for personal use
Territory becomes first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana and two plants
News.com.au
Canberra becomes first Aussie city to make cannabis legal
Blaze up, Canberra. The ACT has made possessing and growing weed for personal use legal, after a landmark bill was passed today.
CNN
Canberra becomes the first city in Australia to legalize marijuana
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/25/asia/australia-cannabis-legal-intl-scli-hnk/index.html
