User:DeadlyRampage26/drafts/Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Act 2021

The Drugs of Dependence (Personal use) Amendment Act 2021 is an law in force in the Australian Capital Territory that decriminalises possession of small personal quantities of psychoactive drugs. The bill was introduced by Michael Pettersson, a ACT Labor MLA in 2021.

Possession limits
Under the ACT law, residents are able to possess up to:


 * Amphetamine - up to 1.5 grams
 * Cocaine - up to 1.5 grams
 * Methamphetamine - up to 1.5 grams
 * Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine - up to 1.5 or 5 DDU
 * Cannabis (dried) - up to 50 grams
 * Cannabis (fresh) - up to 150 grams
 * Heroin - up to 1 gram
 * LSD - up to 0.001 grams or 5 DDU
 * Lysergide - up to 0.001 grams or 5 DDU
 * Psilocybin mushrooms - up to 1.5 grams

Committee and Report
A committee was formed to report on the bill. The committee consisted of three members, one from each party in the Assembly, and it was agreed that the opposition (ACT Liberals) member would chair. The elected members of the committee were:


 * Mr Peter Cain MLA, nominated by the Canberra Liberals, (Chair);
 * Dr Marisa Paterson MLA, nominated by ACT Labor, (Deputy Chair); and
 * Mr Johnathan Davis MLA, nominated by ACT Greens, (Member).

The Secretariat of the committee were:


 * Dr David Monk - Committee Secretary;
 * Ms Sophie Milne - Research Officer; and
 * Ms Lydia Chung - Administrative Assistant

Report
The committee reported on 30 November 2021. The Liberal Chair, Mr Cain, concluded with the following:

"The bill fails to;


 * offer a whole-of-government approach to this complex policy area;
 * consider the risks and unintended consequences involved in decriminalisation, including elevated risks of attracting drug tourism, further investment by drug producers and suppliers, and increased trafficking;
 * recognise that criminalising possession is for many a deterrent to adopting such behaviour;
 * recognise that diversion in the ACT is already working reasonably well; and
 * satisfactorily resolve the issues around the conflict with Commonwealth law."

Mr Cain also added that he, as chair, recommended that the bill not pass. This was in opposition to the views of both the Labor member, as well as the Green member.