Make A Difference On Cannabis Legalisation Australia
Total Letters Sent:
0
Make A Difference On Cannabis Leglisation Australia
Total Letters Sent:
0
Cannabis legalisation & reform in Australia
Why should we legalise cannabis?
Australians consume cannabis more than any other population on Earth. Almost 15% of us use it recreationally, and according to Australian law every one of them is a criminal. At the same time, thousands of patients are deprived of the medicine they need because of excessive regulation and restriction. It’s time to stop treating cannabis like a fringe topic or a destructive substance. The evidence is out, it’s time for our governments to respond, it’s time for cannabis legalisation Australia.
Around the world we’re seeing legalisation efforts succeed, injecting enormous revenues into communities and generating tax for public benefit. Next year New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalisation, yet Australia’s politicians remain silent or dismissive of the issue. By posting a letter today, you can demonstrate that this is unacceptable.
Will letters make a difference?
Physical letters have consistently been the best way to reach politicians and influence policy. Emails can be sent straight to junk and protests can be ignored, but a letter sent to an electoral office is always read. Every election cycle our government is forced to build a policy platform, and if MPs understand that their constituents care about this issue they will be forced to act on it.
A bombardment of letters sends a powerful message even before they’re read. With the help of our included templates and your own stories, together we can be a powerful force for change. Even the most powerful lobby group can’t compete with hundreds of thousands of Australians and the votes they represent. So, will you do your part for cannabis legalisation Australia?
When you send a letter through Better Letters, you become part of a larger effort to make this nation a better place. Cannabis may be illegal, but contacting your representative is not.
Our mission for cannabis reform
Our letter campaign for cannabis reform has a few simple goals:
- The removal of Commonwealth barriers to state legalisation of cannabis
- Legislation for patients in need to be prescribed and access medicinal cannabis
- Support for policies that reflect public opinion and scientific evidence rather than oppositional lobby groups
Cannabis legislation and policy will not be simple to change, but straightforward and coordinated goals are our best avenue to create meaningful change. Your letter can follow one of our templates or deviate to discuss your own experiences and goals for reform.
Who should I write to?
Cannabis reform is a complex issue in Australian law. Writing to Commonwealth and State MPs can be effective, but their capacity to influence the issue is very different.
Commonwealth MPs will be essential to pass legislation to allow state-level reform. Independent Senator David Leyonhjelm attempted to pass such a bill last year, but was defeated by the major parties. By writing to their Commonwealth representatives, we can help influence their policies and allow change to be set in motion.
State MPs play a crucial role in the details of cannabis legislation in Australia. SA, the ACT and NT have decriminalised small amounts of cannabis already, but full legalisation is not yet possible. Writing to state MPs is still effective though. Decriminalisation is unlikely to happen in other states without our outspoken support for it, and eventual legalisation will require significant effort to be implemented in a non-restrictive and viable way.
To clarify, we recommend:
- State MPs with influence over party policy & legislation
- State government leaders, particularly the Premier’s office
- Commonwealth MPs, particularly those that might flip to support removal of barriers to legalisation
To find out who your electorates Federal Member of Parliament please visit “They Vote For You”.
The time has come for cannabis legalisation Australia!
Write Your Letter
Here is a tally of how many letters have been sent to each MP.
Senate Members | Letters Sent |
---|---|
Senator the Hon Scott Ryan | 4 |
Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan | 3 |
Senator the Hon Kristina Keneally | 2 |
Senator Derryn Hinch | 2 |
Senator Anne Urquhart | 1 |
Senator John Williams | 1 |
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham | 1 |
Senator Fraser Anning | 1 |
Senator Pauline Hanson | 1 |
Senator Christopher Ketter | 1 |
Senator the Hon Douglas Cameron | 1 |
Senator Richard Di Natale | 1 |
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie | 1 |
Senator the Hon Penny Wong | 1 |
House Members | Letters Sent |
---|---|
Hon William Shorten | 9 |
Hon Scott Morrison | 7 |
Hon Gregory Hunt | 4 |
Hon Tanya Plibersek | 3 |
Mr Adam Bandt | 2 |
Hon Charles Porter | 2 |
Hon Catherine King | 2 |
Hon David Littleproud | 2 |
Ms Emma Husar | 1 |
Hon Christopher Pyne | 1 |
Mr Patrick Gorman | 1 |
Mr Joshua Wilson | 1 |
Hon Scott Buchholz | 1 |
Mr Kenneth O'Dowd | 1 |
Mr Kevin Hogan | 1 |
Hon Peter Dutton | 1 |
Ms Anne Stanley | 1 |
Mr Trent Zimmerman | 1 |
Mr Graham Perrett | 1 |
Hon Christopher Bowen | 1 |
Mr John Alexander | 1 |
Mr Christopher Hayes | 1 |
Hon Paul Fletcher | 1 |
Hon Melissa Price | 1 |
Hon Joshua Frydenberg | 1 |
Ms Catherine McGowan | 1 |
Hon Sarah Henderson | 1 |
Ms Susan Lamb | 1 |
Mr Luke Howarth | 1 |
Ms Rebekha Sharkie | 1 |