Historic Drug Law Reform in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT):
The matter of legalizing illicit drugs becomes a complex and controversial topic as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) made history on October 28, 2023, by becoming the first state in Australia to decriminalize small amounts of commonly used illicit substances, including ice, heroin, cocaine, and speed.
The ACT government confirmed its support for drug law reform by enacting decriminalisation that is poised to cover a broad spectrum of common illicit substances such as LSD (acid), MDMA (ecstasy), and psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Notably, the ACT decriminalized the personal use of cannabis on January 31st 2020, becoming the first and only state in Australia to do so.
Soundtrack by @Thisiszepha
Three years ago, the ACT implemented legislation change allowing adults aged 18 and over to:
- possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis or up to 150 grams of fresh cannabis
- grow up to two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four plants per household
- use cannabis in your home (personal use).
At the same time the ACT government implemented new laws making it an offense to:
- smoke or use cannabis in a public place
- expose a child or young person to cannabis smoke
- store cannabis where children can reach it
- grow cannabis using hydroponics or artificial cultivation
- grow plants where they can be accessed by the public.
This year the ACT reduced maximum penalties for possessing personal amounts of some illegal drugs.
- Small quantities of drugs found on a person may attract either diversion to a health education and information session, or the option of paying a $100 fine.
- The reforms aim to divert people who use drugs away from the criminal justice system and encourage them to access health services.
- It’s important to know that the ACT is not legalising illicit drugs. Drug use is not safe or encouraged, and police will still confiscate illicit drugs if found on a person. It will still be illegal for a person to drive with any level of illegal substances in their system.
To explore the multifaceted aspects of the ACT’s new drug laws, Australian YouTubers The Craze Collective went to Canberra to investigate these drug law reforms.
Hosted by the notorious dynamic duo Alec Zammitt and Will Stolk, it features ACT residents sharing their perspectives and offers a resident-driven insight into the evolving landscape of drug laws in Australia.
“The general consensus was the cannabis legislation changes were a step in the right direction but not far enough and the new legislation affecting all drugs are welcome changes.” Said Will Stolk
“The community identified key issues with current cannabis policy such as issues with theft and climate due to not being allowed to use artificial light sources as well as issues with seed supply, currently a blind eye is turned regarding how all legal growers obtain their seeds.” Alec Zammitt
“Australia should adopt Germany’s strategy by refraining from penalizing the cultivation of homegrown cannabis plants. Nurturing a flourishing indoor horticultural industry is in the best interest of daily life for ACT residents and Australians at large. Given the rising cost of living and current obstacles to accessing medicinal cannabis, cultivating cannabis indoors offers a safer and more affordable alternative. This is particularly crucial for individuals residing in apartments or locations where outdoor cultivation is impractical.” Said CEO of hydroponic equipment wholesaler Global Gardens.
The ACT has introduced services like CanTEST to complement its new health-centred approach to drugs and drug testing. The service, operational for over a year, offers chemical analysis of pills and drugs intended for personal use. This facility provides tailored information, harm reduction advice, and counselling to support individuals in making informed decisions about their substance use.
