Drug of choice: Sneak peek inside Fitzroy’s mock cannabis shop
A drug reform group, The Penington Institute, has opened a mock cannabis store in Fitzroy as part of a campaign to legalise and regulate the drug in Victoria.
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A mock cannabis store has opened in Fitzroy as part of a campaign to legalise and regulate the drug.
The pop-up shop in Brunswick St will show how cannabis could be sold in a controlled environment.
The Penington Institute is behind the initiative as it launches a blueprint to show Australian states how they can regulate non-medicinal cannabis use for adults.
Penington chief executive John Ryan said the shop and policy launch was not about promoting cannabis use.
“It’s about taking back control,’’ he said.
“Regulation means strict oversight, clear controls on access and use and penalties for trafficking.
“It means resources for police to focus on serious crime.’’
Canada and more than 24 American states have already embraced legalised sale of cannabis, Mr Ryan said.
“It’s all about harm minimisation.’’
The look of the Fitzroy shop is deliberately low key and meant to reflect the utilitarian style of many shops in the US. It will be open for a week and no drugs will be sold.
The Penington plan includes controls for adult use only, a ban on advertising, plain packaging, potency limits and no public consumption.
Under the proposals, the state governments would become a licensing agent for legal cannabis stores.
Mr Ryan said a majority of Australians in all demographics supported legalised and regulated cannabis use.
And a YouGov survey conducted last month for the institute found that 57 per cent of Victorians supported law changes to allow adults to buy cannabis legally – similar to alcohol – but with more safety and regulatory controls.
Victoria’s two Legalise Cannabis MPs have vowed to push through reforms for personal use of the drug.
Originally published as Drug of choice: Sneak peek inside Fitzroy’s mock cannabis shop
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