A Western Metropolitan MP has accused the state government of ignoring its own Labor members after a motion to legalise cannabis for personal use was rejected in Victorian Parliament last month.
Western Metropolitan MP and Legalise Cannabis member David Ettershank said Labor members had voted for the legalisation of cannabis as part of Australian Labor Party (ALP) policy and called for immediate decriminalisation at the 2025 Labor Party state conference.
“Why is Jacinta Allan ignoring the wishes of ALP members and the ALP state conference?” he said.
Mr Ettershank and South Eastern Metropolitan MP colleague Rachel Payne, said the state government had also chosen to ignore the recommendation to decriminalise personal cannabis use in a report from a joint party parliamentary committee that included Labor MPs.
The report, tabled in March this year, took into consideration the impacts of the ACT’s decriminalisation of the personal use of cannabis.
“That committee heard from pre-eminent health and law experts who also argued for decriminalising,” Ms Payne said.
According to Fitzroy Legal Service, almost 4000 people are arrested across the state for possession of cannabis per year.
“The vast majority just for possessing or consuming small amounts,” Mr Ettershank said.
Across Melbourne’s north-west, Hume recorded 296 cannabis drug use and possession offences for the 12 months to June, followed by Brimbank (244), Wyndham (212), Melton (203), Maribyrnong (151) and Hobsons Bay (86), according to the Crime Statistics Agency.
Ms Payne said the costs of police arrests, court proceedings and other agencies associated with cannabis arrests is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
She said First Nations, LGBTQ+, young people and culturally and linguistically diverse community members are the most likely to get in trouble, with cannabis arrests often impacting future employment and housing opportunities.
A state government spokesperson said there are no current plans to change laws regarding personal use or possession of cannabis.
“However, the government will continue to monitor and consider emerging evidence,” the spokesperson said.
The state government said it supports diversion programs as a way for low level offenders to avoid a criminal record and promote rehabilitation, and that it will use the report’s findings to inform future changes to these programs.
