Rachel called on the Minister for Police to decriminalise cannabis. Violent crimes have taken precedence in allocation of police resources. However, cannabis arrests are still occurring, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people statistically overrepresented. Decriminalisation would ensure that police resources can be prioritised where they are most needed.
Thursday the 11th of September
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
Substantive question
My question is for the Minister for Police, represented in this place by the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. I was pleased to hear recent reports that some drug offences are at their lowest recorded levels in decades, and all drug offences remain well below average. I am hopeful that this reflects Victoria Police understanding that drug prohibition has failed. Choosing to direct their resources to violent crimes like assault, that recent reports state is up by 10 per cent, makes more sense.
So my question is: will the minister call for the decriminalisation of cannabis so that Victoria Police can continue to prioritise violent crimes?
Enver Erdogan (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice):
Substantive response
I thank Ms Payne for her question and her passion on this matter. She has been very consistent throughout this whole term of government in the 60th Parliament, so I will make sure that that is passed on to the Minister for Police in the other place for a response in line with the standing orders.
Rachel Payne:
Supplementary question
I thank the minister for referring that on. By way of supplementary, people often think that no-one is arrested for cannabis anymore; that is simply not true. Last year 3180 people were arrested for cannabis possession, 398 of which were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This over-representation is consistent with the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eight times more likely to be arrested for possession of cannabis instead of receiving a caution.
So will the minister commit to addressing the failures in Victoria’s cannabis cautioning program?
Enver Erdogan:
Supplementary response
I thank Ms Payne for that supplementary question, and in line with the standing orders I will seek a written response from the Minister for Police in the other place.
Written response received, 16th of October 2025:
The Victorian Government will continue to work to reduce harm associated with cannabis through coordinated effort and evidence-based action. The Victorian Government and Victoria Police recognises that drug problems are first and foremost health issues.
The Victoria Police Drug Strategy 2020-2025 is aimed at focusing police efforts on drugs that are causing the most harm in the community. It details Victoria Police’s commitment to preventing drug related harm through diversion, referral to treatment and early intervention to prevent offence escalation. Victoria Police continues to tackle the problem of drug harm through a focus on targeted investigations into serious and organised crime using strategic state, Commonwealth, national and international partnerships and disrupting drug use and supply.
Any person found to have a non-trafficable amount of cannabis that is not in accordance with a prescription may be cautioned, as an alternative to laying charges, in order to keep them out of the justice system and minimise the associated harm. Where a drug related arrest is made it is done so in the interests of both public and personal safety.
Victoria Police is committed to collaborating with the Aboriginal community to improve the outcomes of the criminal justice system for Aboriginal people. This is evidenced by the progress made in relation to the Chief Commissioner’s Statement of Commitment.
I trust you understand that the established statutory processes under section 10 of the Victoria Police Act 2013 prevent me from directing Victoria Police in relation to enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting individuals. This ensures Victoria Police can operate independently in undertaking its duty to enforce the law.
The Victorian Government continues to consider options to improve drug diversion programs to address low-level drug use and possession in Victoria.
Hon Anthony Carbines MP
Minister for Police
Minister for Community Safety
Minister for Victims
Minister for Racing
Related:
> LEGALISE IT – Rachel Payne
> Southeast MP secures inquiry into relaxing cannabis laws in Victoria – Rachel Payne
> Cannabis-related arrests – Rachel Payne
> Motion to Refer the (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023 to a Bill Inquiry – Rachel Payne
