Page 3823 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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As has been made clear during this debate, this bill does not mean that Canberra will experience anarchy. Driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs remains illegal, as does supplying cannabis to minors, selling cannabis or consuming cannabis in a public place. The opposition and conservatives have tried to peddle scare tactics, saying that crazed cannabis-affected drivers will be behind the wheel everywhere. This is exaggerated. Drug driving will still be an offence. This bill will simply stop the unnecessary criminalisation of adults who use or possess a small amount of cannabis in private.
Some members of the community may wish that this bill went further; for example, by establishing a market for the sale of small amounts of cannabis. This would not be possible under the current federal law and has never been the purpose of this bill. This bill is simply about legalising cannabis for personal use.
Madam Speaker, we should continue to lead the country in the implementation of progressive social policy. The criminalisation of cannabis does more harm than good. As a restorative justice city, we have moved away from punitive ideas of justice. We should not be criminalising one-third of our population. The majority of Canberrans support legalisation. Let us get with the program and get it done.
Question put:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
The Assembly voted—
|
Ayes 10 |
Noes 7 | ||
|
Mr Barr |
Mr Pettersson |
Mr Coe |
Mr Wall |
|
Ms J Burch |
Mr Rattenbury |
Mr Hanson | |
|
Ms Cheyne |
Mr Steel |
Mrs Jones | |
|
Mr Gupta |
Ms Stephen-Smith |
Mrs Kikkert | |
|
Ms Le Couteur |
Ms Lawder | ||
|
Ms Orr |
Mr Milligan | ||
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Clause 1 agreed to.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.00): I seek leave to move amendments to this bill which have not been considered or reported on by the scrutiny committee and to table a supplementary explanatory statement to the amendments.
Leave granted.
Clause 2.
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