A new study commissioned by the Penington Institute has revealed that a majority of Victorians support removing criminal penalties for cannabis and establishing a regulated market for adult personal use.
The online poll of over 1,500 Victorians, carried out late last year, recorded 54% in favour of such a change, with 28.5% opposed and 17.5% undecided.
The survey also found that only 21% of respondents believed current drug laws are effective at reducing harm, while two thirds said they would prefer to see greater investment in education for young people rather than relying on criminal justice responses.
When asked to rank the harm caused by specific substances, respondents placed cannabis below heroin and opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and alcohol.
The public health research and drug policy organisation described the findings as "the highest level of support seen in an independent third-party survey in favour of cannabis regulation over criminalisation."
CEO John Ryan said: "More and more Victorians reject the criminalisation of cannabis and the harms inherent with this approach. Our research shows they are in favour of a model of careful, sensible cannabis regulation."
Ryan said evidence from the ACT, which decriminalised cannabis for personal use in 2020, showed "there has been little change in consumption rates, no change in cannabis-related hospitalisations and significantly fewer cannabis-related arrests."
Fewer arrests translate to "fewer resources wasted, and less harm to otherwise law-abiding community members," he added.
"Cannabis law enforcement costs the Australian community well in excess of A$1.7 billion per year. A regulated cannabis market can reduce the burden on our already overloaded justice and law-enforcement systems, freeing them up to focus on other, more serious crimes.
"While the ACT example shows us that removing the criminal penalties doesn't lead to an instant rise in consumption, it still leaves many people interfacing with the criminal market if they don't grow their own.
"Victoria has an opportunity to take the logical next step to regulate in such a way that shrinks the criminal market and helps keep people safer through a regulated supply.
"Our research confirms Victorians regard cannabis as far less harmful than other illicit drugs, and less harmful than alcohol. It shows [they] view a regulated cannabis market as a superior solution to the current criminalisation approach, especially when public health education is a core component."
Pledging that the Penington Institute would intensify its push for drug-law reform, Ryan added: "Our current approach to managing cannabis has run its course and the time for change is now… We encourage all Victorians to support us with this important initiative."
Last year, Legalise Cannabis MPs introduced identical bills to allow personal consumption and home grow in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
