Cannabis law reform

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Debra Lynch
19 Sugarleaf Court
BURLEIGH WATERS QLD 4220
Total Signatures - 11,460
Sponsoring Member: The Clerk of the Parliament
Posting Date: 7/9/2020
Closing Date: 4/3/2021
Tabled Date: 9/3/2021
Responded By: Hon Shannon Fentiman MP on 8/4/2021
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House: The objective of the Drugs Misuse Acts is to target drug-traffickers, however over 90% of cannabis arrests are patients, carers and other consumers, adversely impacting their wellbeing, employment, education and travel; and that "medicinal cannabis" laws have failed patients, as witnessed in Senate inquiry into the Barriers to Medical Cannabis. The inquiry recommendations directed toward the States, have not yet been acknowledged or actioned by the Queensland Parliament.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to address these injustices by amending laws to ensure consumers have safe access to cannabis via:

  • an immediate moratorium on arrests for personal use;
  • the removal of restrictions on the cultivation/production, possession and supply of cannabis plants, cannabis, cannabinoids via amendments to Drugs Misuse Regulations 1987, Schedules 2 and 3; and the Health {Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996, 270A;
  • the making of new regulations to allow consumers to cultivate six plants in flower at any one time and possess cannabis, upon the person accepting all risks and responsibilities for usage and storage of their cannabis;
  • a two year trial, to be undertaken to assess the outcomes of decriminalising cannabis including harms or benefits of a licensed, taxed supply chain with home grow option; and
  • the establishment of an independent body inclusive of all stakeholders, responsible for overseeing all aspects of regulating cannabis and hemp, including issuing licences for microbusinesses and non-profit organisations to produce affordable cannabis for local supply within Queensland.