Victoria could be the first Australian state to dive into the hazy pool of legalised recreational weed, or at least investigate the possibility of it.
A 680-page report released by the parliament’s drug law reform inquiry today recommends 50 changes on how to approach illicit drug use, with one section devoted entirely to the adult use of cannabis – “the most popular of the recreational illicit drugs,” it notes.
Calling it “one of the less harmful substances when compared to other drugs such as alcohol or heroin,” the report says the Devil’s lettuce is “worthy of further investigation”.
Of course, this is simply a recommendation that the government merely investigates the idea, but members of a new advisory council have already visited the US states of California and Colorado, as well as Uruguay – the first country to legalise the sale of recreational weed – to study their cases in 2017.
The report also recommends pill testing at festivals and the development of guidelines around prescription opioids for GPs.
“While I would have liked to see the report go further, I believe that this report and its recommendations accurately reflect community attitudes to drug policy today,” Reason Party MP, Fiona Patten said.
“We now understand that drug use is a health and social issue that law enforcement cannot solve. We need root and branch change.”
RMIT criminal justice policy consultant, Jarryd Bartle, echoed the sentiment, telling News.com.au that it’s “great to see that committee recognise that problematic drug use is primarily a health problem, not something our criminal justice system is well suited to address.”
Overall take away: 👍 not revolutionary but strong indications we are moving in the right direction. Hopefully this stuff gets taken up. /fin
— Jarryd Bartle (@JarrydBartle) March 27, 2018
Interestingly, the report found that Victorians in their 40s were much more likely to use weed recreationally in 2016 than they were three years earlier in 2013. It looks like nan’s getting stoned, too, with increased use noted among folks aged 60 or older.
It’ great to see some movement around smart drug policies, but we’re still a long way from actual legislation.
