For the first time, a major Australian political party backs cannabis legalization

This week in Australia, the Greens political party became the first party in the country with Parliamentary seats to propose cannabis legalization.

Among the reasons the party cited were the “failed” war on drugs, potential tax revenues, and an increasing international recognition that cannabis prohibition has a multitude of consequences with few benefits.

The type of marijuana policy proposed by the Greens would establish a government-run cannabis agency that would exclusively supply marijuana to individual retailers. Adults in Australia would also be allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants in their home for personal use.

This top-down policy would run contrary to the market-oriented structure of legal marijuana states like California. Instead, what the Greens are proposing is more similar to what Uruguay currently has in place.

“Quite simply, the war on drugs is really a war on people,” Greens leader Richard Di Natale told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “We need to get real about cannabis use in Australia.”

While medical marijuana is currently legal in Australia, many patients have reported that it’s difficult to obtain. The enforcement of recreational cannabis prohibition varies based on the region. In many cases, offenders are only given minor punishments including fines and mandatory counseling or education programs.

While marijuana proponents were given a brief moment of excitement when the proposal was announced, it was promptly shut down by Greg Hunt, Australia’s minister for health, who made it clear the government would not tolerate such a plan. Hunt claimed that marijuana was a gateway drug to more dangerous, illicit drugs.

“Our job is to protect the health of Australians. This action by the Greens risks the health of Australians,” Hunt said in a statement.

Despite Hunt’s response, the Greens position on cannabis is a significant step towards reform in Australia. What comes next will likely depend on how much of—and how aggressively—the public throws their support behind it.