Why Australia Needs to Legalize Cannabis

Should the Land Down Under become pro-ganja and legalize weed? Here are some reasons I think the answer should be a resounding yes.

Australian history was made last year when the country’s Capital Territory legalised cannabis possession and cultivation for personal use. Now, individuals over the age of 18 can possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis, as well as grow two plants per person at home, or a maximum of four plants per household without fear of reprisal such as fines or arrest. The changed law was certainly a victory for cannabis activists, advocates and enthusiasts alike, though in many ways, it was also very piecemeal.

While cannabis users in the state no longer risk facing a criminal record for possessing or growing small amounts of marijuana possession, the caveats in the law also keep many consumers of the plant forced to subsist on the black market. There is no legal avenue for those looking to purchase cannabis seeds for cultivation, and even once seeds are acquired, it is ostensibly illegal for ACT residents to use grow lights.

This is because the cannabis law excludes the use of ‘artificial cultivation’ methods, which are defined as ‘hydroponic cultivation or cultivation with the application of an artificial source of…