A new discussion paper from the Penington Institute encourages a rethink on Australia’s ‘failed’ cannabis policies, describing the current approach as a ‘three-fold disaster’, in terms of health, crime and law enforcement impacts.
Incorporating evidence from a variety of stakeholders, the Institute’s latest discussion paper ‘Cannabis Regulation in Australia: Putting community safety first’, has just been published. It examines the implications of government policy towards Australia’s illicit cannabis market, which is estimated at over $5 billion annually.
The discussion paper concludes that:
- Huge profits from selling cannabis are used by criminal networks to finance the trafficking of more dangerous drugs (such as heroin and methamphetamine);
- Law enforcement resources are currently focused on small-time personal possession and use, constraining their ability to focus on the criminal network behind the illegal drug trade; and
- The uncontrolled drug market imposes a wide range of harms upon individuals, the community and society more broadly, with a disproportionate burden on people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The paper suggests there is an opportunity for governments to address these issues by implementing a sensible policy change: the regulation of adult cannabis use in Australia.
Law enforcement or harm reduction?
Penington Institute CEO, John Ryan, says governments could make considerable improvements to community safety with legislative change.
‘The evidence tells us that organised crime groups view cannabis as a low-risk and steady source of revenue that finances higher-margin trafficking of highly dangerous drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine,’ said Mr Ryan.
‘One senior policeman is quoted in the paper as describing cannabis as ‘the jet fuel of organised crime. Our contention is that Australia should be doing more to reduce the power and influence of these groups, and to keep ordinary Australians away from contact with the criminal underworld.’
Australia’s anti-drug strategy is dominated by law enforcement efforts – consuming 64.3 per cent of spending in the 2021-22 financial year ($3.5 billion), compared to less than $90 million on health promotion and harm reduction initiatives.
Of the nearly 77,000 cannabis offences registered in Australia in 2019-20, more than 90 per cent involved personal possession or use rather than illegal drug selling.
Current strategy not working
The paper makes it clear that reliance on a law-enforcement based strategy has proven ineffective in deterring cannabis availability and consumption, at making cannabis prices prohibitively expensive, or preventing a trend toward higher potency cannabis.
“This approach is not working,’ said John Ryan. ‘It is piling harm upon harm. For the most part it simply generates thousands of arrests for low-level cannabis use and possession offences, which in fact disproportionately impacts people in lower socio-economic regions.’
The news discussion paper addresses the evidence on Australia’s uncontrolled drug market, the extent of its criminal underworld, the associated economic, human and social harms.
It includes international research on the drug trade and explores the positive impact of regulated cannabis markets in North America, alongside the lesser benefits of decriminalisation.
Mr Ryan says the paper provides clear evidence that a regulated cannabis market for adult use represents a sensible and achievable mode of policy reform, already supported by the community and public at large.
‘There is a real opportunity for meaningful and constructive change. Regulating cannabis is the most sensible pathway to managing cannabis use in our community and reducing the harms being shouldered by those we should be striving to help,’ said Mr Ryan.
Health issues
‘The regulation of cannabis would also ensure quality controls and clear labelling, offer protection to people about what they’re buying and consuming, the risks, and how to minimise them. It would create opportunities for community education and better access to healthcare,’ said Mr Ryan.
‘Importantly, such a change would also suppress the activity and gains of criminal networks, which are nefariously spreading their tentacles throughout our community.’
In March 2024, Penington Institute announced it had commenced the development of a model for cannabis regulation in Victoria. This work is being supported by an extensive program of community consultation with a range of key stakeholders such as medical and health professionals, community leaders, law enforcement, researchers and more.
Penington Institute is an independent pubic health non-profit organisation with expertise in drug policy, research and community information. For more information, go here.
