Victorian Committee Recommends Decriminalising Cannabis Based on ACT Model

A parliamentary committee has recommended Victoria follow the ACT’s lead in decriminalising personal cannabis use.

A Victorian parliamentary committee examining a bill to decriminalise cannabis for personal use has advised the government to adopt a model similar to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), where personal cannabis use was decriminalised in 2019.

If passed, the bill would allow adults in Victoria to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis and cultivate up to six plants per household for personal use—two more than currently permitted in the ACT. Additionally, adults would be allowed to gift cannabis to another adult, further normalising responsible personal use.

The committee has also recommended the inclusion of a five-year statutory review clause to assess the bill’s impact and effectiveness over time.

Evidence Supports Decriminalisation

Drug epidemiologist Paul Dietze from the Burnet Institute highlighted findings from the ACT’s cannabis reforms, which show no significant increase in cannabis use or related harms.

“The evidence that is just coming to the fore in the ACT is that there are really negligible changes in cannabis use and related harms,” Dietze told the committee.

According to the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug in Australia, with 41% of respondents reporting lifetime use.

A Shift Toward Public Health, Not Criminalisation

The proposed bill aims to take a public health approach to cannabis regulation, reducing unnecessary criminalisation. In 2020–21 alone, there were over 11,000 cannabis possession-related arrests in Victoria.

“We expect a major reduction in criminal justice involvement for cannabis consumers,” Dietze said. “That is a huge burden on police and the community.”

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Robert Taylor echoed this sentiment, calling the bill a step forward in reducing harm. “By removing the criminal charges associated with possession and use of cannabis, you are removing a harm that has been ineffective at actually changing behaviour and improving public health.”

Taylor also pointed to the benefits of reducing stigma. “There is still a lot of stigma around seeking help for drug use, and that is really poor for public health,” he said.

More Reform Could Follow

While the bill would mark a major shift for Victoria, experts believe there is room for further reform.

“This is a first step,” Dietze said, noting that future legislation could introduce a more regulated commercial market with stricter potency controls, taxation benefits, and a reduction in illicit market activity.

If passed, Victoria would become the fourth Australian jurisdiction to formally decriminalise cannabis, following the ACT, Northern Territory, and South Australia.

James Petty of the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association dismissed fears of negative consequences. “The sky has not fallen in in those places,” he said. “What the bill proposes is fairly modest. It’s not a radical restructuring of our entire legal system—just a sensible tweak.”

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