Fiona Patten is appealing to the cannabis industry for support as she seeks to become the first Legalise Cannabis MP elected to Australia's federal parliament.
The former Reason Party leader and current deputy chair of the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA) has written to prospective backers detailing how she intends to champion the sector should she secure a Senate seat.
Patten, who lost her Victorian state parliament seat in 2022, said she carried a sense of "unfinished business" and hoped to draw on her track record of cross-party collaboration to drive further policy change.
She said: "When I left the Victorian parliament in 2022, we'd successfully secured many of the policies that we ran with when I entered eight years earlier.
"But I did have a sense of unfinished business around it all. After initiating many reforms, including for cannabis, it was disappointing not to be able to follow through with them.
"So, when opportunity knocked… to change these laws through an offer to throw my hat into the ring to run for the Senate as a candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party, the unfinished business loomed large in my consciousness, and I have thrown myself into the race with gusto. I want to win.
"I think that I have proved that I can work well with others in achieving significant policy reform such as voluntary assisted dying, spent convictions and safe access zones around reproductive health centres. I hope to take those skills to the federal parliament."
Patten called this year's federal election "a pivotal moment in our country's history" and emphasised her intention to push nationally for policies that will "benefit our communities, promote individual freedoms, and support sensible, evidence-based approaches to many issues, including cannabis reform".
At the same time, she acknowledged that running a federal campaign "requires substantial resources that I don't have."
While she assured prospective donors she's "not planning on running a Clive Palmer-style multimillion-dollar campaign," Patten said she would need assistance — both word-of-mouth support and financial contributions — to mount a competitive bid.
"The election could be as soon as April 12, so literally weeks away," she said.
"Every donation, big or small, will help fund crucial campaign activities. Even just the basic registration fees to run candidates in Victoria will cost upwards of A$30k. Democracy is expensive! On top of that we will need how to vote cards, coreflutes etc.
"I would also love to be able to run a few billboards, some radio advertising and, if Meta allows, some online advertising. Despite what Zuckerberg says about free speech, he is still censoring the Legalise Cannabis Party."
Those wishing to contribute financially are encouraged to make campaign donations here.
Supporters can also assist Fiona Patten's Senate campaign by sharing news of her candidacy on social media or signing up to volunteer directly.
"Our research tells us that I can win the sixth Victorian Senate spot and I would very much like to do that," said Patten.
"But I don't think that I can do without you. Thank you in advance for your generosity and belief."
