Seantor Duncan Spender is fully committed to legalising cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. In Australia, cannabis arrests account for the largest proportion of illicit drug arrests. In 2015-16, there were almost 80,000 cannabis arrests. Of these arrests 90 per cent were consumers.

The clear majority of those arrested would not fit the picture of a criminal, yet are designated as such. This includes families who are simply trying to ease the suffering of their loved ones, after all other legal treatments have proved ineffective.

Medical evidence tells us that cannabis is less harmful than either tobacco or alcohol. History has shown us that prohibition of popular products does not work; it encourages more crime than it prevents.

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