People in Brunswick want to see an end to harmful prohibition.
From Uruguay to Spain, New Zealand to the United States, countries all around the world are realising that prohibition causes more harm than it prevents, and are moving to develop a regulated legal market. It’s time we joined them.
As a doctor, I understand drug use is a health issue, not a criminal issue. I’d much prefer people who suffered from addiction forced to see a health professional than encounter the police.
In Australia, almost 7 million of us have used cannabis despite currently risking a criminal record for doing so.
That’s why under our federal policy, cannabis would be taxed and regulated by the government, in the same way alcohol and tobacco are. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates our plan would raise $3.6 billion over four years.
This revenue would fully fund drug education and treatment programs and provide a much-needed funding boost for our hospitals and Medicare.
Law and order agencies would also be able to redirect resources spent on policing cannabis, to other activities to keep our community safe.
