Canberra becomes the first city in Australia to legalize marijuana

The Australian capital Canberra will become the country's first city to legalize marijuana following a landmark vote Tuesday night.

Lawmakers in the Australian Capital Territory voted to pass a bill allowing people aged 18 or over to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use.
The new law is set to come into effect from January 31, 2020, state broadcaster ABC reported.

Under the new regulations, residents in the territory -- which is home to the capital -- will be able to legally possess up to 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of marijuana and cultivate up to two plants per person, or four per household.


https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/asia/australia-cannabis-legal-intl-scli-hnk/index.html

Great news for the Aussies living in Canberra!

"Possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized throughout Australia, but the Australian Capital Territory is the first of Australia's eight states and territories to take the next step of legalizing possession and cultivation.

But marijuana users in Canberra will still face some legal uncertainty because possession of small amounts of marijuana remains illegal under federal law."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/cannabis-in-canberra-australian-capital-legalizes-recreational-marijuana-1.4609239

Agreed, great news @SB85 though as @Rider101 notes it is till illegal under federal Australian law, similar to the situation in Washington, DC. I wonder how they decided on the 50 gram limit? Great first step I hope.

There are some weird issues it would seem though like a four plant maximum to go along with that 50-gram limit. And no shops, no legal buying or selling. I read passing a joint would be illegal and the buying, selling, giving or trading of seeds it would seem would also still be illegal even in the ACT.

In Canada we have a four plant limit as well as 30 gram limit. But the 30 gram limit refers to how much you can carry with you in public. In most of Canada the amount you have at home is limitless expect BC where there is a 1 kilogram limit at home.

Giving weed, seeds, clones, or other cannabis products is legal in Canada as long as no money changes hands. In fact if you live in Canada you can send weed to anywhere else in Canada Canada post even sells the smell proof packaging no joke.
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/parcels/restrictions/cannabis.page

inDC4now said:

Agreed, great news @SB85 though as @Rider101 notes it is till illegal under federal Australian law, similar to the situation in Washington, DC. I wonder how they decided on the 50 gram limit? Great first step I hope.

There are some weird issues it would seem though like a four plant maximum to go along with that 50-gram limit. And no shops, no legal buying or selling. I read passing a joint would be illegal and the buying, selling, giving or trading of seeds it would seem would also still be illegal even in the ACT.

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It's a step forward down there and hope the Aussie government goes further when it comes to cannabis policy

I think its a sad outcome to be honest.
ACT has had cannabis decriminalized for many many years. Small fine and on ur way.- no record.
2 plants and only 50 grams is silly as is no provisions for dealing with roadside drug tests which currently just has to detect an illegal drug in your system, even from 2 days ago to be found guilty.
Federal govt may also choose to override the ACT rule, which they have the power to do at the stroke of a pen.

Personally i think decriminalization federally is the way to go. Im not a fan of what is being called "legal", with lots of rules, regulations and licensing fees. I dont want Australia to go down the path America has.
Keep in mind in general our laws and punishments in regard to cannabis are more relaxed than the majority of American states. People don't go to gaol here for an oz of pot or a coupe plants.

Lucky Luke said:

I think its a sad outcome to be honest.
ACT has had cannabis decriminalized for many many years. Small fine and on ur way.- no record.
2 plants and only 50 grams is silly as is no provisions for dealing with roadside drug tests which currently just has to detect an illegal drug in your system, even from 2 days ago to be found guilty.
Federal govt may also choose to override the ACT rule, which they have the power to do at the stroke of a pen.

Personally i think decriminalization federally is the way to go. Im not a fan of what is being called "legal", with lots of rules, regulations and licensing fees. I dont want Australia to go down the path America has.
Keep in mind in general our laws and punishments in regard to cannabis are more relaxed than the majority of American states. People don't go to gaol here for an oz of pot or a coupe plants.

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So you have no problem with organized crime and gangs profiting from cannabis when that money could be used to build schools and hospitals and reduce your taxes?

Wouldn't you rather see legal cannabis where you can buy it in a store or grow it yourself without the threat of being arrested? BTW you still have the choice to buy and grow cannabis illegally if you want when its legalized.

FYI Since Canada has legalized cannabis its created thousands of jobs and made it much easier to get stoned win win. And its only getting better.

The only people in Canada I hear whining are the criminals who profited off of illegal cannabis.

Rider101 said:

So you have no problem with organized crime and gangs profiting from cannabis when that money could be used to build schools and hospitals and reduce your taxes?

Wouldn't you rather see legal cannabis where you can buy it in a store or grow it yourself without the threat of being arrested? BTW you still have the choice to buy and grow cannabis illegally if you want when its legalized.

FYI Since Canada has legalized cannabis its created thousands of jobs and made it much easier to get stoned win win. And its only getting better.

The only people in Canada I hear whining are the criminals who profited off of illegal cannabis.

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I think you may be attacking me for no reason. You may not be aware that its been a small fine if caught growing in the ACT for a long, long long time. The early 1980's i think. My uncle was caught with an ounce on him a year or two ago and it cost him a whopping $7 fine. Its normally a $100 fine i think (wages are pretty high in the ACT so that's like an hr or three wages) and no conviction but he decided to take it to court. Judge told the police offers to "not waste my time again".

This law the ACT has passed has no provision for selling. That's still illegal and there is no way the federal govt is going to let that happen anytime soon. This wont have any effect on increasing or lowering tax's. Not sure were u get that from?
Im not sure how making it legal to be in position of 50 grams of cannabis and two plants makes any sense to anyone? Sure the odd guy who already grows a small auto or two will be fine but it wont have any effect on most growers.

In answer to ur question i already gave my viewpoint. I don't want what allot on hear call legal. I just want decriminalization on a federal level and the road side drug tests to have an impairment level like booze does. Certainly don't want stores selling sub par flower and encouraging kids to take up the drug and certainly dont want big business controlling the market like they have with tobacco and pharmaceuticals.
I have no problem at all with an urban cannabis farmer selling their flowers to a few lucky clients just as i have no problem with a Urban vegetable grower or bee keeper selling their produce to a few lucky clients.
One definition of a Black market is :' underground economy or shadow economy.' Something governments have tried to stop for hundreds of years and were cash is king. We all use it to some extent and some of us profit by not paying as much income tax, some of us profit by having a job done a little cheaper. Its a good thing for the masses just not good for those at the top end of town.