User:DeadlyRampage26/drafts/Drug policy of the Australian Capital Territory
The Drugs of Dependence (Personal use) Amendment Act 2021 is an law in force in the Australian Capital Territory that decriminalises possession of small personal quantities of psychoactive drugs.[a] The bill was introduced by Michael Pettersson, a ACT Labor MLA in 2021.[1]
Possession limits
[edit]
Under the ACT law, residents are able to possess up to:
- Amphetamine[b] - up to 1.5 grams
- Cocaine[c] - up to 1.5 grams
- Methamphetamine[d] - up to 1.5 grams
- Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine[e] - up to 1.5 or 5 DDU[f]
- Cannabis (dried)[g] - up to 50 grams
- Cannabis (fresh)[h] - up to 150 grams
- Heroin - up to 1 gram
- LSD - up to 0.001 grams or 5 DDU[i]
- Lysergide - up to 0.001 grams or 5 DDU[j]
- Psilocybin mushrooms[k] - up to 1.5 grams
Drug decriminalisation bill
[edit]The Drugs of Dependence (Personal use) Amendment Act 2021 is an law in force in the Australian Capital Territory that decriminalises possession of small personal quantities of psychoactive drugs.[l] The bill was introduced by Michael Pettersson, a ACT Labor MLA in 2021.[1]
| Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Act 2021 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of the Australian Capital Territory | |
| |
| Territorial extent |  ACTJervis Bay |
| Considered by | ACT Legislative Assembly |
| Enacted by | ACT Parliament |
| Enacted | 20 October 2022 |
| Assented to | N/A[m][2] |
| Commenced | 1 February 2023 |
| Legislative history | |
| Introduced by | Michael Pettersson (ALP) |
| Introduced | 10 August 2023 |
| Committee responsible | Select Committee on the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Act 2021 |
| First reading | 11 February 2021 |
| Voting summary | |
| Summary | |
| A passed law the legalised the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs; MDMA, Amphetamine (speed), Cannabis[n], Cocaine, Heroin, Lysergic acid, LSD, Methadone, Methamphetamine (meth, ice]], Psilocybin (magic mushrooms, caps). | |
| Keywords | |
| Drug decriminalization | |
| Status: In force | |
A committee was formed to report on the bill. The committee consisted of three members, one from each party in the Assembly, and it was agreed that the opposition (ACT Liberals) member would chair. The elected members of the committee were:[o]
- Mr Peter Cain MLA, nominated by the Canberra Liberals, (Chair);
- Dr Marisa Paterson MLA, nominated by ACT Labor, (Deputy Chair); and
- Mr Johnathan Davis MLA, nominated by ACT Greens, (Member).
The Secretariat of the committee were:
- Dr David Monk - Committee Secretary;
- Ms Sophie Milne - Research Officer; and
- Ms Lydia Chung - Administrative Assistant
Report
[edit]The committee reported on 30 November 2021.[p] The Liberal Chair, Mr Cain, concluded with the following:
"The bill fails to;
- offer a whole-of-government approach to this complex policy area;
- consider the risks and unintended consequences involved in decriminalisation, including elevated risks of attracting drug tourism, further investment by drug producers and suppliers, and increased trafficking;
- recognise that criminalising possession is for many a deterrent to adopting such behaviour;
- recognise that diversion in the ACT is already working reasonably well; and
- satisfactorily resolve the issues around the conflict with Commonwealth law."
Mr Cain also added that he, as chair, recommended that the bill not pass. This was in opposition to the views of both the Labor member, as well as the Green member.[q]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Including MDMA, Cocaine, Heroin, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Lysergic acid, LSD, Methadone and Psilocybin mushroom.
- ^ Also known by street name 'speed'
- ^ Also known by street names: 'blow'; 'coke'; 'crack'; 'marching powder'.
- ^ Also known by street names: 'meth'; 'ice'.
- ^ Known by street names: 'MDMA'; 'ecstacy'.
- ^ Discreet dosing units, meaning individual doses. For example, individual ecstacy tablets are considered doses.
- ^ Also known by street names: 'marijuana'; 'ganja'; 'weed'.
- ^ Also known by street names: 'marijuana'; 'ganja'; 'weed'.
- ^ Discreet dosing units, meaning individual doses. For example, individual ecstacy tablets are considered doses.
- ^ Discreet dosing units, meaning individual doses. For example, individual ecstacy tablets are considered doses.
- ^ Also known by street names: 'magic mushrooms'; 'caps'.
- ^ Including MDMA, Cocaine, Heroin, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Lysergic acid, LSD, Methadone and Psilocybin mushroom.
- ^ Unlike bills of all other Australian states and territories, including the Federal Parliament, ACT bills are not given royal assent due to the fact that the ACT has neither an Administrator, or a Governor.
- ^ The ACT had previously decriminalised cannabis use in 2020.
- ^ https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1908789/Report-Inquiry-into-the-Drugs-of-Dependence-Personal-Use-Amendment-Bill-2021-with-dissenting-report.pdf
- ^ https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1908789/Report-Inquiry-into-the-Drugs-of-Dependence-Personal-Use-Amendment-Bill-2021-with-dissenting-report.pdf
- ^ https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1908789/Report-Inquiry-into-the-Drugs-of-Dependence-Personal-Use-Amendment-Bill-2021-with-dissenting-report.pdf
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Australian Territory Decriminalizes Small Quantities of Hard Drugs". Voice of America. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/visit-and-learn/resources/factsheets/how-laws-are-made