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5 compelling reasons for a regulated cannabis market

The latest paper from the Penington Institute is a devastating critique of our current prohibition on cannabis.There are five compelling reasons why we need change now, and why most Australians support change.

How’s this for a devastating critique of our current laws governing cannabis?

“Our criminalised, law enforcement-centred cannabis regime enriches criminal groups, drains resources, does little to constrain cannabis availability, and manifests primarily as the generation of thousands of low-level offences disproportionately borne by members of vulnerable communities.”

This is the conclusion of the latest research paper published by the Penington Institute in Victoria.

It’s a powerful argument for a regulated cannabis market for any number of reasons including:

  • To protect our children from accessing drugs of addiction and overdose
  • To severely dint the economic model of organised crime groups
  • To prevent organised crime promoting other drugs, laundered money and violence
  • To prevent the havoc these laws are having on working class and Aboriginal people
  • To save billions on pointless law enforcement – each cannabis arrest costs $1900

This is an issue that goes beyond conventional politics.

In the United States, polling has found 70 per cent support for adult use cannabis with no difference between those who live in states with a legal market to those where prohibition continues.

“Our current cannabis model imposes compounding layers of harm,” the report states.

“Australians are aware that it is time for more practical drug policies; it is policymakers’ responsibility to attend to community preferences by moving forward with the transformation of cannabis management.”

The full report can be accessed here.

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