Last month, the Legal and Social Issues Committee conducted an inquiry into Legalise Cannabis Victoria’s Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023. The findings of this inquiry have been released in a report today.
Tuesday the 18th of March 2025,
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
I rise to speak on this report on behalf of Legalise Cannabis Victoria. Cannabis in Victoria should be treated as a public health issue, with law reform guided by the principles of harm minimisation. This finding reflects the fact that the overwhelming majority of submissions to the inquiry were in support of our bill. It also reflects the irrefutable evidence of the ACT’s successful decriminalisation of cannabis.
Despite our best efforts this report stops short of recommending our bill be passed, although it does recommend the Victorian government consider adopting an approach in line with that proposed by our bill. It is a shame that the Victorian government chooses to continue to be the only jurisdiction in Australia with a blanket policy of not supporting private members bills. It is also a shame that our recommendation to establish an independent expert advisory panel was unsuccessful. This panel would investigate the further regulation of cannabis, including a commercial market for cannabis in Victoria, a modest evidence-led reform like our bill. These concerns are elaborated further in my minority report.
In closing, I would like to thank the secretariat for their outstanding work. I would also like to thank all the stakeholders who made a submission and presented at the public hearing. Your expertise and experiences have been invaluable, particularly those who shared their lived experiences. The opportunity to conduct an inquiry into our bill has helped us understand the best practice model for regulating the personal adult use of cannabis in Victoria. I do look forward to seeing the government’s response to this report, because the time for change is now.
Related:
> Motion to Refer the (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023 to a Bill Inquiry – Rachel Payne
> Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis – Rachel Payne
> Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill 2023 – First Reading – Rachel Payne
> LEGALISE IT. – Rachel Payne
