Legalise Cannabis Party could team up with other progressive parties to hold the balance of power in the upper house

Three pro-weed politicians could wield significant power in the state’s new-look upper house. These are their demands.

Three pro-weed politicians could wield significant power in Victoria’s new look upper house as key votes needed by the Andrews government to pass legislation.

The Legalise Cannabis Party is shaping up to be one of the big winners from the state election, with up to three candidates projected to be appointed to the new Legislative Council.

On current trends, the government is expected to have 15 seats in the 40-seat upper house, meaning it would rely on six MPs to pass laws.

The Greens are expected to increase their seat count to three, while the Animal Justice Party and Shooters Fishers and Farmers are both likely to hold on to a seat each.

This could see the Legalise Cannabis Party teaming up with other progressive parties to hold the balance of power.

The Legalise Cannabis Party is shaping up to be one of the big winners from the state election. Picture: Stock image

Legalise Cannabis Victoria secretary Craig Ellis said it wasn’t guaranteed that three MPs would be elected, but the party is “hopeful of getting at least one or two”.

“If we’re elected, we’ll forcefully prosecute the case for full legislation of cannabis in Victoria,” he told the Herald Sun.

“We’re not talking about decriminalisation, we’re talking about legalising. It’s a no-brainer.”

The party’s official policy document states that cannabis must be treated in the same way as alcohol and tobacco.

Key demands of government would include an immediate ban on all arrests of cannabis consumers, and for all historical personal-use cannabis criminal records to be expunged.

Victorians would be able to grow weed in their own home and a state-based licensing system established to cover commercial operations.

The “unfair and discriminatory” roadside drug test would also be overhauled to test for impairment rather than presence, including for medicinal cannabis users.

“It’s time. We’re getting support from interesting quarters and from people who I believe aren’t cannabis users, but are people who don’t want to see their kids future being jeopardised by a potential cannabis offence,” Mr Ellis added.

The state government is facing growing calls to legalise cannabis.

The government is yet to respond to an upper house committee which recommended the state investigate the impacts of legalising cannabis for adult personal use.

But Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said he had no plans to legalise the drug.

“My position on that has been very clear and very consistent … over a long period of time,” he said.

Mr Ellis said it is “simply outrageous” that the government was yet to act on cannabis reform, but suspected it was because “neither of the major parties want to be painted as soft on drugs”.

“They can’t keep their heads in the sand. Cannabis has been here a long time. It’s not going anywhere,” he said.

“The Premier can be on the right side of history and true to his word where he talks about Victoria being the most progressive state.

“He tells people they have to listen to the experts on Covid, but he doesn’t listen to the experts on cannabis.

“I find that simply outrageous.”

The Victorian Electoral Commission is yet to confirm the final make up of the Legislative Council.

Mr Andrews said he was confident his government would be able to work constructively with the final crossbench.

“Whatever the upper house is, in terms of its makeup, we’ll work with them, we always have,” he said.

“We’ve always been able to get our Bills through, pretty much, there’s been very few that have not been able to pass.

“We’ll work with that crossbench in good faith.”