SA to be home to ‘fine food, wine and weed’ under Greens cannabis plan

South Australia would be the state of “fine food, wine and weed” under a plan to give recreational use of cannabis the green light.

South Australia would boast “fine food, wine and weed” under a Greens plan to legalise recreational use of cannabis, including the cultivation of up to six plants at home.

The mooted legislation, if passed by state parliament, could help generate tax revenue for the state’s health system and make access easier for those who need marijuana for medicinal purposes – all while leaving organised crime operations high and dry, the party says.

The bill will take a trip to the upper house on Wednesday.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks says the proposed legislation imagines a state where SA’s much-touted offerings include “fine food, wine and weed from our clean green environment”.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks. Picture Dean Martin

It would establish a cannabis licensing agency, which would oversee the administration of commercial distribution and sales of marijuana in a manner similar to that of alcohol.

The growing of up to six plants for personal use at home would be permitted and a provision to allow for compassionate access to more plants is included in the mooted legislation.

The sale of cannabis to minors would remain illegal, with individuals facing a $20,000 fine for a first offence and a $40,000 for second and subsequent offences, while a body corporate would be slapped with a $50,000 fine.

Anyone caught buying cannabis for youths faces a maximum $20,000 fine.

Ms Franks said prohibition was a “pretence,” with one in three Australians having tried cannabis despite it being illegal.

“When it comes to cannabis, the war on drugs is often a war on sick people, disabled people, and people desperate to get out of pain,” she said.

“We should be seizing this opportunity to take money out of the pockets of organised crime and put it instead towards the public good and prosperity for our state.”

Ms Franks said tax revenue generated through cannabis sales could be directed into the state’s health system while the legalisation of adult-use of cannabis would create jobs for South Australians.

Adelaide-based cannabis advocate Jenny Hallam, 49, said the legalisation of recreational cannabis should be a “done deal”.

“There are so many people that can’t access it medically and some doctors are still living in the dark ages,” she said. “We could lead the way.”

Navy veteran and former police officer-turned-school teacher Damon Adams, who uses medicinal marijuana prescribed by his doctor to treat PTSD, urged parliament to support the bill.

“It’s terribly expensive to buy still if you can find a doctor to prescribe it,” the 44-year-old Greenwith resident said.

Treasurer Rob Lucas said it was “highly unlikely” the government would support the bill “but it’s difficult to comment on something we haven’t seen yet”.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said Labor did not support legalising full recreational use of cannabis.