NOTE Whilst medical cannabis has been legalised federally, this does not mean cannabis is legal. From a doctor with prescription, yes. Growing it or buying it for personal use, NO. The information below is a general guide to state law, and should not be used as the basis of legal advice. You see its got to do with the state not federal government. The federal government is basically concerned with importexport and customs laws. The STATE governments however are the ones concerned with enforcing their states respective drug laws. So hands up if you know what your state cannabis laws are NSW anyone QLD Anyone Good on those people who actually could say they do, and welcome to my world if you actually verbalised your answer even though the question wasnt asked verballyNow lets revisit our good friends at the NCPIC National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centreand see what theyve got to say. Its actually quite helpful. The basic gist is this It is illegal to use, possess, grow or sell cannabis in Australia, but the penalties for cannabis offences are different in each state and territory. Of course they are. What sensible and well thought out drug policy based on scientific fact and harm minimisation wouldnt have 7 different sets of consequences for the same so called offence EXACTLY, NONE, but Australia doesBut what exactly are the differencesWell we have to begin with the terms legalisation and decriminalisation, and of course prohibition. Prohibition simply means an order to restrain or stop, in this context it means all Australian citizens are required by law to stop or refrain from using or growing cannabis. According to the NCPICs Cannabis and the Law factsheet It is illegal to use, possess, grow or sell cannabis in Australia, but the penalties for cannabis offences are different in each state and territory. THUS,Some jurisdictions have decriminalised minor cannabis offences, such as the possession of a small amount of the drug for personal use. This means that the offence can be dealt with by a civil penalty, such as a fine, rather than by receiving a criminal charge. Speeding is a good example of an offence that is commonly dealt with by a civil penalty. If an offence is decriminalised, it does not mean that it is legal. Legalisation of cannabis would mean that cannabis would no longer be an illicit drug, but would be a legal drug like alcohol and tobacco. So essentially we are talking about penalties here. Cannabis is illegal, but how much trouble you find yourself in for having it will depend on where you are. NaturallyOK, so where is it decriminalised SA South Australia SA has had the most relaxed of all decriminalised states for the longest of all as they were the first to institute them in 1. The lowdown is possession of up to 1. Hidden camera investigation finds most Calgary car dealerships breach consumer rules. Are you looking for a cheap taxi insurance policy This MoneySuperMarket guide tells you all you need to know to get the right insurance at the right price. For years advocates of amnesty and high levels of immigration have described the illegal alien population as one made up of otherwise lawabiding people who have. Archives and past articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly. com. ACT Australian Capital Territory I find it incredibly ironic that the state which contains our Parliament House has had the most relaxed form of our cannabis laws for the past 1. The lowdown is possession of up to two non hydroponic cannabis plants, or up to 2. Instead of paying the fine, the person may choose to attend a drug assessment and treatment program. NT Northern Territory Next to institute decriminalisation was the NT in 1. The lowdown is possession of up to 5. Cheers guys, but that raises a question in my mind, namely is that to say that in the eyes of the law if cannabis is decriminalised such offences are akin to speeding I DISAGREE SIR Am I honestly supposed to believe that if you get busted with cannabis in a state where it is decriminalised people will view you the same way as someone who has been caught doing 5. There is no stigma attached to speeding in our country, despite our governments inept attempts to curb it. Drug use on the other hand carries a significant social stigma that, for some strange reason, is VERY different to speeding. The foreword from After the War on Drugs Blueprint for Regulation by Transform Drug Policy Foundation 2. Heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, prescription and over the counter medicines, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea we are all people who use drugs. Our refusal to acknowledge this comes from a deep seated fear that we might become, or be seen as, one of them. What we really need to focus on is the difference between drug use and drug addiction or dependency. Global prohibitionist drug policy continues to focus efforts primarily on the substances alone. This is wrong. Regardless of this, we have NSW New South Wales, QLD Queensland, WA Western Australia, VIC Victoria and TAS Tasmania left as the states where cannabis possession and use is a criminal offence. HOWEVERIt is unlikely that someone caught with a small amount of cannabis for the first time would receive a criminal conviction, because of the diversion programs that run in these states according to the NCPIC. But huh If its illegal doesnt that mean you cannot have any THE ANSWER IS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL IN THESE FOUR STATES, IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN A CERTAIN AMOUNT YOU WONT BE CHARGED. Logical right NSW possession of up to 1. NSW may receive a caution from the police. QLD   possession of up to 5. This is the only state in which diversion must be offered to a minor cannabis offender elsewhere, it is up to the police officers whether or not they offer diversion or charge the offender. One diversion limit. UPDATE WA Western Australia WA Police Minister Rob Johnson says anyone caught with more than 1. He said those caught with fewer than 1. Apparently this is to be based on a similar system used in QLD July 2. VIC possession of no more than 5. TAS possession of up to 5. Firstly let me say I cant express my disappointment at the absolute irrationality and seemingly ad hoc nature of policy that has implications for so many of our youth and their future opportunities. Mo Mowlam 1. 94. Minister responsible for UK Drug Policy from 1. From my experience of being responsible for drugs policy I came to the conclusion that legalisation and regulation of all drugs was the only way to reduce the harmful effects of this unstoppable activity. The Guardian, 1. September 2. 00. 2She, of course, is not the only person who has this view. Simon Lentons Cannabis policy and the burden of proof published in the March 2. Drug and Alcohol Review echoes the perspective that prohibition of cannabis is futile and far more harmful than cannabis use to the user. He outlines how criminal sanctions against cannabis use is a failure because it has low support from the general community because the criminal penalties both potential and actual can have serious and long lasting detrimental impact, and also that more progressive policy such as decriminalisation does not lead to higher rates of cannabis use. I disagree with Mr. Lentons presumption that regulation of cannabis cannot work in Australia because of our International Treaty Obligations. This refers to how, many moons ago, our good friends the USA basically coerced many other countries to prohibit cannabis like them because they enacted racist and sensationalist policy to further self interest in their country. The Schaffer Library of Drug Policy is a good source for further information on this topic.