According to reports, in Australia it has been revealed that rank-and-file Victorian Liberals will be using a State Council meeting later this month as a platform for their argument for a cannabis market regulated for adults.
The Guardian is reporting One of 62 drafts motions to be presented at the Victorian Liberal State Council meeting calls for cannabis to be treated in a manner similar to alcohol. Although the draft motions at both the federal and state party levels are not legally binding, they do reflect the views of members.
The proposal proposes to regulate the retail market for licensed dispensaries with a sales tax equal to that of beer excise duties by federal governments. This revenue will be used to reduce state debt and fund drug and alcohol services.
Taxing adult-use cannabis in US states has proven to be a huge revenue generator, helping fill the state’s coffers. According to an economic model by Sapere Research Group, released by Penington Institute, a regulated market for cannabis in Victoria would generate new revenue of nearly $2 billion and inject $10 billion over the course of 10 years into the gross state product.
Decades later, the economic impact would amount to $18 Billion in both direct and indirect activity.
Victoria’s illegal cannabis market, as it stands, is worth an estimated $1.5 billion and has a zero-percent state government cut.
“Victoria’s current approach to cannabis — prohibition and criminalisation — has cost billions with little effect on demand or public safety,” said John Ryan, Penington Institute CEO in July. Evidence from Canada and several US States indicates that regulated markets reduce illegal sales, and deny criminal gangs a profit source.
Other recent news about cannabis in the state was the Legalise Cannabis Victoria party claiming victory in regards to outdated state workplace drug-testing laws. These were updated last in 2012. A parliamentary investigation was launched by the party. Among the recommendations of this inquiry, WorkSafe updated its guidance so that medicinal cannabis prescribed to patients is treated the same as any other medication with the possibility of causing impairment.
The response from the state to this inquiry has now been delayed by nearly 8 months. However, an LCVÂ motion in late July calling on the Allan Government to commit to progressing the reforms recommended passed Victoria’s Upper House.