MEDIA RELEASE: Stonehouse mulls weed laws

Speaking to 6PR’s Ollie Peterson earlier today, Liberal Democrats MLC Aaron Stonehouse made a clear commitment to back a push by Labor Party members for the return of gentler cannabis legislation, effectively guaranteeing that any such bill will pass through the Legislative Council.
“I believe in deregulation so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I want to see drugs decriminalised across the board. That will take time, but this step by Labor’s grassroots membership is one that I welcome and one that I’m happy to support” said Mr Stonehouse.
Mr Stonehouse believes that there is a growing movement within WA Labor for a return to the 2003 legislation brought in under Geoff Gallop, which allowed for fines of $50 for cannabis possession, and for education programmes rather than prison sentences.
“I’ve been speaking to colleagues on the Labor benches in recent weeks, and it’s become obvious to me that there is a real desire to roll up the Liberal’s draconian and over-the-top legislation on cannabis possession. I’m told there’s a real likelihood that the WA Labor conference later this month will move to mandate the parliamentary party to do just that, and to reintroduce the Cannabis Control Act which the Liberals repealed in 2011. That’s obviously a matter for the Labor Party to discuss and to come to a view on, but I’ve been encouraged by the strength of support I’ve been seeing from Labor’s grassroots membership, and I want to take this opportunity to assure members, delegates, and the government that they will have my support if and when such a bill reaches the Legislative Council”.
Given the current balance of power in the upper house, Labor and the Greens would still need the vote of at least one member of the cross-bench to enact their legislation.
“I will continue to push for a Portugal-style approach to all drug use here in WA, but in the meantime I am happy to see the law relaxed. I congratulate the state Labor Party on what looks to be the resumption of a common sense approach to cannabis. Working together, we can make that a reality”.

