Australia

Is cannabis legal in Australia?

Yes and no. Adult-use remains illegal in most provinces, with the notable exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which includes the capital Canberra. The ACT legalized recreational marijuana on September 25, 2019. In the territory, residents over age 18 may possess up to 50 grams of marijuana, grow two plants per person or four plants per household at any given time, and use cannabis in their home.

Medical marijuana became legal when the country’s parliament passed the Narcotic Drugs Amendment in 2016. There is no list of qualifying conditions, but the Department of Health is reviewing existing studies of marijuana for chronic pain, epilepsy, nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, palliative care, and multiple sclerosis. Interested patients should speak to their doctor.

Regulation authority

The country’s Department of Health’s Office of Drug Control oversees the national medical marijuana program.