The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has come out against the Greens' bill to legalise adult-use cannabis, arguing the legislation would send the wrong message on public health.
The proposal, tabled in federal parliament by Senator David Shoebridge in August, would permit recreational use by adults, allow home cultivation of up to six plants, and establish a commercial cannabis market nationwide.
Shoebridge pointed to a Parliamentary Budget Office report, commissioned by the Greens, which estimated the change could bring in A$28 billion in tax revenue across a decade.
Despite this, the AMA's submission to the Senate Parliamentary Inquiry into the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 argued the bill would worsen health outcomes and add strain to an already pressured healthcare system.
The AMA also raised concerns about young people gaining access to the drug, even though the bill explicitly includes provisions restricting sales to those aged 18 and over.
The submission said: "The AMA believes that if cannabis was legalised for recreational purposes, it would indicate to the public that cannabis use is not harmful.
"Allowing people to grow up to six plants in their home may normalise frequent cannabis use and will make large quantities of cannabis even more accessible to young people."
The AMA further stated that cannabis use should be "treated first and foremost as a health issue" rather than a criminal one.
"When cannabis users come into contact with the police or courts, the opportunity should be taken to divert those users to preventive, educational and therapeutic options that they would not otherwise access," the AMA said.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) acknowledged evidence supporting cannabis in treating certain medical conditions, but argued that legalisation could negatively affect mental health, among other concerns.
Curtin University's National Drug Research Institute described the bill as "well intended and consistent with the developing research evidence on the impact of cannabis legalisation schemes" but expressed concerns about the registration of strains.
Read more: 'The Australian Medical Association's position on cannabis reform is disconnected from reality.'
