Legalise Cannabis Australia saw an uptick in support at the ballot box, RMIT expert available for comment
According to the latest Senate results, Legalise Cannabis Australia has picked up between 2% and 7% of the Senate vote in most states and the Northern Territory.
An expert from RMIT University is available to talk to media about whether increased support for the Legalise Cannabis Australia party indicates Australians are ready for the legalisation of recreational cannabis.
Jarryd Bartle (0405 439 374 or jarryd.bartle@rmit.edu.au)
Topics: Cannabis legalisation, drug law reform
“Support for the legalisation of recreational cannabis has risen dramatically over the last few decades.
“In 2007, only 21% of Australians supported legalisation but in 2019 support jumped to 41% in the National Drug Household Survey.
“The Legalise Cannabis Australia party received a strong vote over the weekend but it doesn’t mean Australians are ready for legal recreational cannabis.
“Asking voters if they support a policy proposal in the abstract can often be a poor read of the level of support it would receive once it becomes a hot button political issue.
“We saw this play out in the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum, where 51% of voters rejected the legalisation of cannabis, despite early opinion polling indicating strong support.
“One of the big lessons from the last few decades of cannabis law reform is that voters prefer a gradual and measured approach to drug liberalisation.”
Jarryd Bartle is a sessional lecturer in criminal law at RMIT University and a consultant to the drug and alcohol sector.
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For interviews, contact Jarryd Bartle: 0405 439 374 or jarryd.bartle@rmit.edu.au.
For media enquiries, contact RMIT Communications: 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au
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