ACT has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise the personal use of cannabis after the new laws came into effect on Friday. For IT worker Evan*, his method of unwinding after work has been illegal up until now. The Canberran public servant and has been using cannabis recreationally for the last few years. “Some people when they go home have one glass of wine, they don't have the bottle, they have one glass. For me, having a few puffs on the vaporiser or a quart

The state government is expected to announce on Friday whether Labor will act on a recommendation that illicit drug use and public order offences no longer be crimes, ahead of the release of a productivity commission report into recidivism. In the 11th major review of Queensland’s criminal justice system in 10 years, Ms Trad asked the Productivity Commission to make recommendations to tackle the "serious and growing public policy concern" of prison overcrowding. Someone is ca

This weekend, some of us will be able to smoke cannabis legally for the first time. But the Prime Minister has issued a warning. Plumes of cannabis smoke are forecast to rise out of the nation’s capital this weekend — when Australians will be able to legally smoke cannabis for the first time. From Saturday, the ACT’s new laws, passed by its parliament in September, allow adults to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis legally and grow their own plants. And, while it’s anticipate

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he "won't be partaking" when the ACT becomes the first Australian state where cannabis is legal on Saturday. "I would expect federal law enforcement agencies to enforce the law": Prime Minister Scott Morrison However Mr Morrison continued to send mixed messages about the Coalition government's position on the drug becoming legal in the nation's capital. From February 1, adults in the ACT can legally possess up to 50 grams of dry cannabis or

The new laws allow each person aged 18 and over to be in possession of no more than 50 grams of dried cannabis. (Image: Getty) What about the federal laws? Considerable uncertainty still exists over potential conflicts between these fresh ACT laws and federal laws that criminalise the possession of cannabis. Under the federal Criminal Code Act 1995, it’s an offence to possess a controlled drug. This can carry a penalty of two years imprisonment. Attorney-General Christian Por

Thailand's first official cannabis clinic is overflowing with patients. Within the first 10 days of the health center's grand opening, cannabis caregivers have attended to 4,639 patients, according to the Nation/Asia News Network. An additional 12,000 people are seeking appointments until March. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the marijuana-based clinic which is run under the administration of the Health Minister. Individuals arranged their appointments in

Olivia Newton John has given fans an update on her ongoing cancer battle, revealing incredible news that her cancer tumours have shrunk. The 71-year-old spoke to the Herald Sun as she readies herself to return to stage alongside John Farnham at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire charity concert in Sydney on February 16. She credits her incredible update to medicinal cannabis and natural therapies. “When people hear metastatic breast cancer or cancer there’s still this stig

Medicinal cannabis will now be available free of charge in the southern Italian region of Sicily, according to a decree signed on Tuesday by Sicilian health chief Ruggero Razza. Photo: ANSA The cost of medicinal cannabis for anyone suffering from chronic pain, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis will be covered by Sicily’s regional government, according to local media. Italy legalised medicinal cannabis in 2013 and it now has one of the largest markets in Europe. However, i

Mice cured of MRSA, raising hopes of treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. MRSA bacteria, one of the most common hospital superbugs. Photograph: Alamy A compound made by cannabis plants has been found to wipe out drug-resistant bacteria, raising hopes of a new weapon in the fight against superbugs. Scientists screened five cannabis compounds for their antibiotic properties and found that one, cannabigerol (CBG), was particularly potent at killing methicillin-resistant Staph

A driver with a prescription for medicinal cannabis oil has had a charge of drug driving dismissed by an Adelaide magistrate in a landmark finding. Now Brenton Peters, who says the cannabis oil provides him with relief from the muscle cramps and stiffness associated with his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and his legal team are calling for changes to driving laws. Mr Peters is one of 3500 Australian’s to be legally prescribed the oil which contains equal parts THC, the comp