Victorian Government Looking For Public Suggestions On Whether To Legalise Weed

A committee within the government of Victoria has been looking at the use of cannabis in the state.

The group is now seeking public and private submissions on what the state should do about the drug and whether the current legal framework surrounding it is adequate in this era.

The committee was set up to investigate five aspects of cannabis use in Victoria.

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They want to see how best to prevent young people and children from accessing and using the drug, to ensure public health and public safety is at the forefront and to have health education campaigns and programs to highlight the dangers of drug use.

The prevention of criminal activity in relation to the illegal cannabis trade is also a factor, as is the assessment of the mental health of users and their families.

It's no small task and their findings will have a large impact on what the state government does about weed legislation.

That's why the committee wants to get as many insights as possible from Victorians about the drug.

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Committee Chair Fiona Patten said: "We want to hear from community members about the current restrictions on the use of cannabis in Victoria and whether these are appropriate.

"We're interested in hearing people's views on whether use of cannabis should remain legal for medical treatment only or whether current restrictions on use of cannabis should be changed.

"At the same time, it's crucial that our own community members have the opportunity to get involved with this conversation. That's why we're encouraging people with an interest in these issues to make a submission."

Regardless of your views on the issue, the committee is keen to hear your thoughts.

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In addition to the committee's five main functions, they will also assess how other jurisdictions have approached the issue of cannabis legalisation.

There have been plenty of states and countries pass legislation about weed and there have been varying degrees of success in each area. The committee's task is to weigh up whether that success can be replicated in Australia.

Last year, the Australian Capital Territory made it legal to possess up to 50 grams of dry cannabis and 150 grams of wet cannabis as well as grow two plants.

Federal law still prevents the sale of the drug, however Canberrans were able to walk around with weed on their person from 31 January.

If you want to make a submission for the Victorian government's committee on weed legislation, you can click here.

Topics: News, Drugs, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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