Recreational marijuana use in Australia could be legalised by federal parliament, Greens say
Party says commonwealth regulation of cultivation, licensing and sale of cannabis would override state and territory laws
Monday, September 26, 2022
Federal parliament could override state laws to legalise recreational marijuana use in Australia, according to new constitutional advice obtained by the Greens. As the minor party ramps up its campaign to legalise cannabis ahead of a planned private member’s bill to be introduced next year, the Greens’ justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said the advice from constitutional lawyer Patrick Keyzer paved the way for new federal laws. The Greens say that empowering the commonwealth to regulate the cultivation, licensing and sale of cannabis – including the measures needed to create a legal national cannabis market – would override state and territory laws criminalising marijuana. (See also: ‘Staring people in the face’: The 22-year-old case to legalise cannabis)
