Greens Senator Shoebridge has today introduced The Greens Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 to permit the adult recreational use of cannabis across the country. This is the first time a bill has been introduced to Federal Parliament that could, with the support of both houses, create a legal home grow and commercial cannabis market across the country.
Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson Senator Shoebridge said:
“With just a sprinkling of political courage and collaboration mixed with a truckload of common sense we can make this law and end the war on cannabis.
“It’s time to stop pretending that consumption of this plant, consumed each year by literally millions of Australians, should still be seen as a crime.
“Everyone knows that it is not a matter of if we legalise cannabis in Australia, it’s a matter of when, and today we’re taking a huge step forward.
“The Greens are here to get this done, and we’ll be working hard to get the numbers to make this law.
“It’s time to seize the many opportunities that legalisation poses. This includes the $28 billion in public revenue that legalisation can bring in in the first 9 years of operation.
“This is the chance for tens of thousands of quality green jobs, new small businesses, enriched regional economies and the boon for tourism that will come with establishing a totally new legal industry.
“It is the opportunity to regulate the quality, strength and safety of a product that millions of Australians are already using, and it’s the chance to radically reduce harm, by stopping 80,000 Australians a year from being caught up in the criminal justice system for possession of cannabis.
“Using the collective wisdom of thousands of contributors who shared their knowledge and experience with us, we are introducing a solidly founded bill that maps out the way to legalise cannabis across Australia.
