Victorian Greens announce policy to legalise cannabis ahead of November state election

An audacious new policy has been announced that would allow adults in one state to legally buy and smoke cannabis.

A new policy to legalise cannabis in Victoria has been announced by the state Greens.

Under the plan, cannabis would be taxed at 30 per cent of sales, raising as much as $1.2bn in new tax revenue over a decade.

The policy also includes decriminalising small amounts of other drugs, thus saving the criminal justice system $250m, The Greens say.

Brunswick state Greens MP Tim Read is calling on the legalisation of cannabis in Victoria. Picture: Supplied

“Thousands of Victorians use cannabis each year, yet for 50 years we have been more at risk from the criminal justice system than the drugs,” Victorian Greens health and justice spokesman Tim Read said.

“If we’re serious about tackling organised crime, taking their market away will do more than any amount of enforcement.

“We need a smarter approach to drugs, and decriminalisation of drug use is the first step.

“It also means legalising and regulating the sale and use of cannabis so that Victorians aren’t buying dangerous products from the black market.”

The policy, which The Greens say has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, also includes $10m for a government agency to oversee the production and sale of cannabis as well as guiding education, prevention and awareness.

As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.

Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022

Last week, US President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of people with cannabis convictions.

In September, NSW Greens senator David Shoebridge announced the federal Greens’ intention to introduce legislation legalising cannabis nationwide by 2023.

Senator Shoebridge said advice provided to The Greens by constitutional law expert and Australian Catholic University dean of law Patrick Keyzer provided a clear pathway for its legalisation.

That advice was that the commonwealth had the power to regulate plant varieties under section 51 of the Australian constitution.

We can legalise it!

Legal advice obtained by my office shows that the Greens can pass a bill to legalise cannabis NATIONALLY.
All state legislation criminalising its legal use, possession and sale can be overridden. We could legalise cannabis across the country this year!

— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) September 25, 2022

“In short, the commonwealth can regulate the cultivation, licensing and sale of cannabis,” The Greens said in a statement at the time.

In 2021, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the impacts of legalising cannabis for adult personal use.

It’s the second major policy the Victorian Greens have announced in a matter of weeks.

Leader Samantha Ratnam last week said they would support building 100,000 public housing homes in Victoria over the next 10 years and 200,000 affordable housing homes over the next 20.