Lawyers’ cannabis move hits early snag

THE possession of small amounts of cannabis should be decriminalised, a lawyers group says.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance has produced draft legislation in the hope of attracting political support from Tasmanian MPs.

But Attorney-General Elise Archer ruled it out within hours.

The legislation mirrors the law in the Australian Capital Territory and would allow people to grow two plants and possess or use up to 50g of dried or 150g of fresh cannabis.

Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Fabiano Cangelosi said the “war on drugs has failed” and the time for reform had arrived.

He said minor cannabis offences were a waste of the legal system’s time.

“On any day in the Magistrates Court of Tasmania you will see more than 20, 30, maybe 40 people with charges of that nature,” Mr Cangelosi said.

“They don’t need to be before the court for possessing a very small quantity of a plant that is not necessarily harmful.”

Former chief magistrate Michael Hill said many magistrates would agree the reform was a sensible one.

“Recent numbers that I’ve seen indicate in Tasmania over 1000 (cases) a year, 80 per cent of those probably personal-use situations,” he said.

“To a large extent here, we’re dealing with young people, so the criminalisation of their behaviour can have a lasting effect.”

The Lawyers Alliance will present the draft Bill to each of the state’s political parties but Attorney-General Elise Archer already said no.

“Recreational use of cannabis is illegal for a reason and that is because it can lead to more complex health and other issues,” Ms Archer said.