Cannabis law reform
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:58): Recently the Penington Institute released a 21-point action plan to safely legalise and establish a regulated cannabis market worth an estimated $2 billion annually. With demand for cannabis remaining high across the community and most Victorians opposing the criminalisation of cannabis users, Penington has an ambitious plan for a tightly regulated market that puts public health and community safety at its heart. The plan envisages regulated products sold in licensed outlets with no online services, no advertising, zero access for children, and certification and testing of all products. It is a commonsense, valuable contribution to the community debate in this area. Legalise Cannabis Victoria has been calling on the government to decriminalise personal use of a modest amount of cannabis as soon as possible. Reform in this area is now well overdue. Prohibition does not work, and the war on drugs has failed. It is time to adopt a health-centred, economically sound approach to regulation, rather than leaving it to organised crime gangs to manage the market. As a start we could stop arresting people and free up valuable police resources. But when we do want to consider a fully regulated market, Penington offers an interesting version of that end point. I urge the Allan government and all MPs to read the Penington Institute plan.