Cannabiz Australia
And while politicians have the “privilege” of admitting to having consumed cannabis in their past, thousands of Victorians are still being prosecuted and suffering devastating consequences for doing the very same thing, Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP Rachel Payne said.
Speaking in the state parliament’s upper house last night, Payne and fellow Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank called on the government to be “courageous” and end the flawed war on cannabis.
The comments came during a session triggered by a Legalise Cannabis Party petition which gathered almost 3,000 signatures in 72 hours supporting the decriminalisation of personal use cannabis.
Turning the focus on the inequality of current cannabis laws, Payne reminded the house that a “tidal wave” of MPs confessed to consuming cannabis.
Yet these very same politicians are continuing to criminalise its use and watching young people suffer as a result, Payne said.
“Last year we saw a tidal wave of MPs step forward and announce that at one time or another they have consumed cannabis,” the MP said. “There is immense privilege that comes with being able to make such a disclosure…but for many members of the public the criminalisation of cannabis has forced them into the judicial system and stamped them with a criminal record.
“They have lost their freedoms, their money and their ability to chase their dreams. The criminalisation of cannabis has caused so much harm.
“So when members of this government disclose their cannabis use, and then fail to act on decriminalising cannabis, it is a smack in the face to every Victorian who is not privileged enough to avoid the law.”
Those people continue to suffer because of “government inaction”, she said.
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‘Privileged’ MPs scolded for admitting to cannabis use yet refusing to budge on legalisation
