The Greens are pushing for a radical plan to legalize cannabis, then tax it heavily and use the proceeds to fund a massive increase in Centrelink payments.
A new study has found that legalizing cannabis in Australia could raise up to $28 billion in taxes over a decade and take money away from organized crime.
The Greens commissioned an inquiry by the parliamentary budget office and suggested that the windfall would see the government increase payments for jobseekers and young people by $80 every two weeks.
If the Greens’ proposal became law, people could legally grow six cannabis plants, but it would still be against the law to sell weed to children.
Legalizing cannabis in Australia could raise up to $28 billion in taxes over a decade. Pictured is a woman smoking weed
The $28 billion would be raised by GST on sales, plus a 15 percent sales tax on cannabis and corporate income tax on profits.
Senator David Shoebridge, the spokesperson for the Greens, said the marijuana taxes could also be used to fund community housing.
“($28 billion is) enough to build affordable homes for 280,000 people or raise Jobseeker at $80 every two weeks,” he tweeted.
‘The costing estimate assumes that 10% of the cannabis sold under the scheme will be sold to tourists, with the potential for this to grow.
“This green gold could become the lifeblood of many regional areas currently struggling for viable local industries.”
Drug law is a state matter, but the Greens say cannabis could be regulated federally under Article 51 of the Australian Constitution.
“Legal cannabis makes tremendous social and economic sense,” Mr. Shoebridge told News Corp.
“If we legalize cannabis, we will take billions away from organized crime, law enforcement and law enforcement and then spend it on schools, housing, hospitals and community support.”
The Greens are calling for the legalization of marijuana. Pictured is a commercial cannabis grow
If a higher cannabis sales tax of 25 percent cannabis sales tax were used, the tax levied over the decade of operation would rise to $36 billion.
The Greens plan would establish a Cannabis Australia National Agency (CANA) that would oversee the legalization of its sale and production through strict regulation.
CANA would be the sole wholesaler between manufacturers and outlets and set the wholesale price, which would initially be based on the Australian street price.
The cost to the consumer would later fluctuate according to market forces such as supply and demand.
Greens senator David Shoebridge (pictured) said: ‘Legal cannabis makes enormous social and economic sense’
Mr Shoebridge said that ‘almost half of adult Australians have ever used cannabis…
“Legalizing cannabis allows you to properly regulate the market, provide consistent health and safety advice and make the product safer.
“Right now, the only ‘security regulators’ for the cannabis market are biker gangs and organized crime, and that makes no sense.”
In a tweet, the senator said his party is “still working to get the bill right — it’s a complicated and new piece of legislation and we have one chance to get it right.”
“We will release the next few weeks for consultation and look forward to hearing your thoughts.”
Many US states and Canada have greatly relaxed restrictions on cannabis.
In Canada, people over the age of 18 can purchase cannabis from both government-owned and licensed stores.
It is still a crime in Canada to sell marijuana to a child, smoke in public, grow more than four plants at home, or carry more than 30 grams.
National Senator Matt Canavan strongly opposes the proposed Greens legislation.
“I don’t think we should legalize cannabis because it’s been a disaster in American cities,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“Since the legalization of cannabis in the US, many of their major inner cities have become crime-ridden and tragically full of drug-addicted homeless people.”
How the Australian Greens are calling for cannabis legalisation
The Greens have released a new article about cannabis legislation on January 30, summarized below.
Germany has committed to legalizing cannabis in recent months, alongside Canada, Uruguay, South Africa, Jamaica, Mexico, Malta and at least 19 states in the United States where recreational cannabis use is already legal.
“The current law targets some of the most vulnerable communities in the country, young people, First Nations people and those on lower incomes in regional and extra-urban areas.
The Greens released a new article on cannabis on January 30. The photo shows party leader Adam Bandt
“By removing the sale of cannabis from organized crime, Australia becomes fairer and safer. It will also generate billions of dollars in revenue, business and GST tax revenue for use in schools, hospitals and income support.
“Traditionally, cannabis regulation has only been seen through the lens of the states’ criminal justice systems. But once the decision is made to legalize cannabis, the Commonwealth has clear constitutional authority to create a national, legal cannabis market.
The Greens are working with key stakeholders to draft a bill to be presented to parliament. This consultation will consider:
- The right number of plants for individuals to grow legally
- Appropriate legal sanctions for unlawful sale or distribution, including to minors
- Additional tax measures and where that income should be spent on, schools etc.
- Banned for the tobacco and alcohol industries from entering the cannabis industry
- The role of growers’ cooperatives’
.