Cannabis becomes legal to use and grow in Australia.

The biggest week for cannabis so far in the USA. Prohibition gets trumped in 8 more states!


TRANSCRIPT

So… Big news! November 2016 will mark a historic time in Australia for cannabis re-legalisation. Whether you’re a medical patient or cannabis enthusiast, this week is the first time in *80 years* that cannabis will be legal as medicine in Australia, AND legal to cultivate and research. This is not a drill! There’s been a lot of talk since February this year, but this week the TGA will formally reschedule cannabis, AND the Office of Drug Control starts licensing cultivation. This is REALLY exciting! 

Hi I’m Charlie and this is what you need to know : 

From this November the TGA has promised to move cannabis from Schedule 9 to Schedule 8 in the national Medicines and Poisons classification. In other words, it’s moving it from Super Illegal Drug which you’re not allowed to do *anything* with, to Super Illegal drug which (if you have the right prescription, and state laws) you can possibly, after specialist referral, be considered to get permission to use cannabis…. in special circumstances… after exhausting all other options. *roll eyes*

Schedule 8 is where cocaine and morphine currently sit! Which is ree-diculous because not a single person has ever died from cannabis, and because it has so many medical uses. The news headline should actually read “After decades of ignoring scientists and activists, the government makes a small reluctant step in the right direction”. But look, it is still the biggest step in *80* years - so it's a big deal.. 

Some of you will remember, in February this year, Federal Parliament made headlines by passing a bill to make changes to something called the Narcotic Drugs Act. Long story short, the bill basically allows Australia as a country to grow and research Cannabis without breaking our international legal obligations. 

But… It doesn't say anything about access for medical patients. The bill simply creates a government regulator and framework allowing cannabis to be researched, transported, and cultivated. It’s the same thing they did for poppies to make opium. The change really is quite important, because it was one of the last major roadblocks stopping patients from accessing cannabis, and it comes into effect this week. 

The TGA reclassification is *another* one of those roadblocks, but believe it or not, this change has zero legal effect unless medical cannabis is adopted by individual states. Since February, Victoria, New South Wales and just this month Queensland have all passed limited medical cannabis laws, and the ACT and Tasmania are both working on their own bills too. 

Don’t get any ideas though, weed will still be very much illegal nationwide if you don’t have a prescription... to get a prescription it must be individually approved by the Head of the department of health in your state, or by a specially authorised doctor, and only for a select few medical conditions! So, for most people, you’ll still have to wait quite a while to access medical marijuana. 

It’s really quite appalling because the government have dragged their heels throughout this whole process. Even though a Senate committee recommended legalising cannabis waaaay back in 2013, and activists, scientists and patients have been adamant about it for decades. A research group found in early 2015 that 91% of the population supported medical cannabis, and over a third of the population have tried cannabis. The government should be leading the way, not holding us back.

The TGA’s schedule of poisons and chemicals is there to protect the public from dangerous substances, but the only dangerous thing about this naturally growing flower is being caught with it. Guess how many people have died from cannabis? None. And I don’t mean none like, I have nothing to wear, none. I mean, none, as in not a single case in 10,000 years of recorded use of cannabis. More people have died from taking selfies than cannabis. Alcohol on the other hand kills 15 people every. single. day. in Australia, and it’s perfectly legal. Cigarettes are exactly the same, and ironically do the one thing the label says it will do, kill you… but you can still easily buy cigarettes at your local supermarket. On the other hand, it’s actually scientifically impossible for cannabis to kill you, as it’s non toxic. And yet it's classified as a dangerous poison here in Australia when it’s not. 

All of these irrational and incorrect fears about cannabis will take a long time undo. As you can imagine, one of the biggest hurdles for medical marijuana is educating doctors, and the community, about how safe it is, and how it can help. There's a tonne for doctors to learn - as none of it was taught in medical school, because it wasn’t considered medicine. It’s going to be a slow road for it to be re-accepted and used by the wider community, but it will happen. It's called a war on drugs, but it really is just a war on people. A civil war. And overwhelmingly it is a war on the sick and disadvantaged in the community. The drug war continues to be a verifiable failure by every measure, and even the liberals agree. 

Another huge thing that happens next week is the Office of Drug Control will start taking applications from the public for the cultivation, manufacture and research of cannabis. Get ready to see lots of news stories about companies and groups as they get licensed to grow around Australia. But, it’s not just anyone who can grow it. Firstly, it will be expensive, at about $5,000 for the licence, and $2,000 for a permit every year. Plus you’ll have to have very strict security measures in place, and meet a long list of compliance requirements and show that you are a ‘fit and proper person’ (funnies). 

Here's the thing though, international laws state that we can’t produce more cannabis than is required by patients, so we predict only a handful of licences and permits will be granted at least to begin with, because not many people can actually *be* patients. Not until more medical conditions are eligible anyway. 

So a big week for cannabis in Australia - we’re finally getting somewhere and while it’s far from perfect we are heading in the right direction! 

You can find links to the TGA announcements, FAQ’s, and cultivation application in the description below. 

Tell me what you think - if you liked this video and you want to see more, let me know by liking my facebook page. Check back here for updates, or subscribe on youtube for notifications. I’ll be covering all sorts of cannabis-related topics. 

If you want to know more, we also have videos on the marijuana as medicine, cannabis vs alcohol, what to expect for your first time using cannabis, why weed is illegal, history of cannabis in Australia, cannabis in America, hemp foods, and many other helpful topics. 

 
 

 

[ Informal setting video. No intro clips - include snippets of film while I’m talking of me in California, Colorado, Mexico ]


Hey everyone, remember me?! Yes, you haven't seen me for a while, but...I’m back!


So, there’s good reason why I’ve been away. Actually, a few good reasons! (#winter #soulsearching)


A few months back I took off on a trip to the States, and while I was there I was lucky enough to go to the Cannabis Cup in California. (snippet of film with voiceover) Call it a festival, trade show, flower competition; the Cannabis Cup is the world’s leading cannabis event...there’s business exhibitions, product demos, music, workshops, and the who’s who of weed - I was lucky enough to network with some of the pioneers in the American cannabis industry, (end snippet) which was a little scary for this starstruck woman ! It’s been running for more than 30 years, but this year it was the first Cannabis Cup since California voted to legalise ‘recreational cannabis’ in the elections last November.


Then I headed off to Colorado for the internationally recognised day to celebrate cannabis, called 420 ! (snippet of film with voiceover) Colorado, you probably already know, was the first State to legalise recreational cannabis in 2012, along with Washington. The energy on 420 was just inspiring! I visited some dispensaries and grows to learn more about how they treat cannabis, both as a business and from a consumer perspective. (end snippet)


I had an amazing time in the US; it was game changing to see how different the cannabis culture is over there. I experienced a real, face to face insight into how normal cannabis is treated, and how many people have a healthy and happy relationship to this all too often demonised plant.


I was lucky enough to then head down south for a sneaky detour into Mexico for a surfing and yoga retreat, keeping the conversations going and speaking to more people in my sleepy little surf town about how their country treats cannabis, and what people think about legalisation, and the future. (snippet of video) Even Mexico, with it’s messy relationship to narcotics, is seeing the cannabis landscape change and grow. Their president is a legalisation advocate! (end)


And what have I been getting up to back on home ground?


Well, I was at the Hemp Health and Innovation Expo in Sydney, now already in it’s second year! (start video snippet)


There were demonstrations, talks, and businesses showing their products and sharing their knowledge.


A whole weekend of local conversations about cannabis left me with all the good feels.


I spoke to so many visitors about their personal stories, thoughts and perspectives around cannabis, and collected hundreds of messages about what cannabis means to you, (end snippet) and I’m so excited to share these with you !


And ALSO! I’ve got some exciting new projects and brand new videos that I’ve been working on for the past few months, buuuttt…. I can’t give you any spoilers just yet…


just be sure to keep an eye out because I’ll be sharing these with you very soon.


If you haven’t already, click subscribe and ‘see first’ so you don’t miss the updates.


Get ready to see more of this mug on your screens !


For now I just wanted to let y’all know where I’m up to. Thanks so much to everyone who has subscribed, liked, left a comment, sent a message - it’s really been encouraging so thank you!


The support and change around cannabis legalisation is well and truly alive here in Australia, and it’s really exciting !


Chat soon k? ;)