CANBERRA, Sept 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) becomes the country’s first jurisdiction to legalise personal use of cannabis.
The ACT Legislative Assembly recently voted to legalise the possession, use and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis.
The law, which will come into effect on Jan 31, 2020, allow possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis per person and a maximum of four cannabis plants per household.
However, the drug will still remain illegal under federal laws – meaning that users in the ACT could still face legal risks when growing or smoking it.
“This does not entirely remove the risk of people being arrested under Commonwealth law, and we are being up front with the community about that,” the ACT’s Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay, said.
“The ACT’s legislation attempts to provide a clear and specific legal defence to an adult who possesses small amounts of cannabis in the ACT, but is prosecuted under Commonwealth law,” Ramsay said.
“But unfortunately it cannot stop someone being arrested and charged if the Commonwealth officials were minded to do so, or prosecuted if the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions thought it were appropriate to do so,” he said.
The bill was introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Labour backbencher, Michael Pettersson.
“This bill is simply about legalising cannabis for personal use,” he said.– NNN-XINHUA
