Australian Cannabis Activists Speak Out Against THC Ban, Want Drug Policy Reform

A group of Australian cannabis activists recently staged a high-profile protest against the country's cannabis policy, particularly the laws that penalize drivers who are found to have THC in their system.

According to High Times, the activists utilized a fleet of armored military vehicles to travel around Sydney, projecting cannabis imagery on iconic landmarks in the city to raise awareness about the failures of the War on Drugs and advocate for policy reform.

The group aimed to shed light on the inadequacies of the cannabis policy in New South Wales, which imposes severe criminal penalties, including license suspension or revocation, hefty fines, and imprisonment, on drivers found to have THC in their system.

From Punishment To Harm Reduction

The activists argued that cannabis policy reform should prioritize harm reduction and treatment over punishment and incarceration.

The activists also sought to educate the public on the benefits of legalizing cannabis, such as personal freedom and potential sources of revenue for public services. “We (...) want to educate the Australian taxpayer on the benefits of fully legalizing cannabis in Australia," said cannabis advocate, Will Stolk.

Recently, a Penington Institute report found decriminalizing cannabis could save Australians $850 million a year, they add that going a step further to legalize it could save as much as $1.2 billion annually.

Cannabis legalization advocates in Australia recently gained momentum when Jeremy Buckingham, a former Green Party member, was elected as the first member of Parliament for the Legalise Cannabis NSW party.

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