Decrimilisation of cannabis in NSW

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  • Outrage at efforts to ban over the counter sale of cannabis

    Attempts to introduce sanctions on Chlorodyne (a common remedy containing cannabis) were met with outrage. The concoction, and others like it remained easy to obtain until the 1940s (Jiggens, 2004).
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  • Cannabis for non medical use banned

    Indian hemp banned from non medical use when Australia signs the second international opium convention (Marr, 2011).

  • Marijuana described as an 'evil sex drug'

    The word 'marijuana' introduced to Australia. Marijuana said to be 'a new drug that maddens victims' and is described as an 'evil sex drug' (Jiggins, 2004).

  • UN calls for limitations on drugs

    The United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs requires parties 'to limit exclusively to medical and scientific purposes the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of drugs' (United Nations,1961).

  • Huge infestation of wild cannabis in NSW

    Huge infestation of wild cannabis found growing along a stretch of the Hunter River in New South Wales. The infestation covered 200 hectares and took many years to be removed (Jiggins, 2004)

  • 15 cannabis arrests in Sydney

    In 1965 there were 15 cannabis related arrests in Sydney, versus two in the rest of Austrlaia (Jiggins, 2004).

  • 57 cannabis arrests in Sydney

    In 1966 there were 57 cannabis related arrests in Sydney, versus four in the rest of Austrlaia (Jiggins, 2004).

  • Cannabis made illegal as a medicine in NSW

    The Poisions and Therapeutic Goods Act outlaws cannabis as a medicine in NSW (New South Wales Consolidated Acts, 1966).

  • Australia endorses the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

    Australia endorses the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The Commonwealth employs the Narcotic Drugs Act to prohibit recreational drug use inclusing cannabis (Hall, 2008).

  • Fritz the Cat

    Released in 1972, Fritz the Cat an American animated comedy film which was controversial as it featured cannabis smoking.

  • Nixon starts world war on drugs

    The Drug Enforcement Administration created by President Richard Nixon to establish a single unified command to combat "an all-out global war on the drug menace."

  • War on Drugs begins in Australia

    Paramilitary attacks on hippie colonies in New South Wales. Time of increasing US style prohibition (Jiggins, 2004).

  • Senate report recommending decrimilisation of cannabis is ignored

    Senate report recommends that personal use of cannabis should “not be defined in law as a crime…the penalty be solely pecuniary with no record of conviction…used in subsequent proceedings”. Government ignores recommendations (Museum Victoria Lecture Series, 1999).

  • South Australia decriminalises cannabis

    South Australia decriminalises minor marijuana offences. Offenders are given a fine in place of a criminal charge as well as referral for assessment with option of treatment and rehabilitation (Hall, 2008).

  • Recommendations to decriminalise cannabis in Victoria are rejected

    Pennington review recommend decriminalisation of cannabis in Victoria. Kennett government rejects the recommendations despite having initially indicated support (Green, 2012).

  • Head of Federal Police murdered over NSW canabis control

    Head of Federal Police Colin Winchester is assassinated at time of warring between police forces and criminals over the control of cannabis in NSW - specifically the Bungendore crop (Whitton, 1989).

  • Report recommends decrimalisation of drugs

    Rlease of report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Criminal Authority: “Drugs, Crime and Society.” Report concludes that prohibition has not worked and was associated with considerable costs to users and society. Committee outlined a number of possible alternatives to the current policy, including decriminalisation (Hughes, 2012)

  • Group for Drug Law Reform is launched

    The Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform is launched (Hughes, 2012).

  • ACT decriminalises personal cannabis possession

    Simple Cannabis Offence Notice (SCON) expiation scheme for cannabis offences introduced in the ACT which decriminalises personal possession (National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, 2011).

  • Australia starts the UN convention against trafficing

    The 1998 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances commences in Australia (Hughes, 2012).

  • Government report supports decriminalisation

    Government report “Chart for Drug Law Reform” is released by the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform. The report argues in favour of alternatives to prohibition such as decriminalisation (Hughes, 2012).

  • National Cannabis Task Force recommend decriminalisation of cannabis

    National Cannabis Task Force recommended all Australian jurisdictions consider removing criminal penalties for personal use/possession of cannabis. While possession, unsanctioned cultivation, sale and non-therapeutic use of cannabis in any quantity should remain illegal (Hughes, 2012).

  • Wood champions decriminalisation but Carr ignores

    Wood Royal Commission explores alternatives to prohibition. Supreme Court judge James Wood advocates decriminalisation as a positive alterative but Bob Carr (NSW Premier) will not consider it as an option.

  • Howard announces 'Tough on Drugs' policy

    Prime Minister John Howard announces his “Tough on Drugs” policy to the Australian public, enforcing harsher penalties for drug use and trafficking.

  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas released which frequently features cannabis smoking.

  • National Drug Strategy Household Survey results released

    National Drug Strategy Household Survey results show that between 1995 and 1998 'recent cannabis use' increased from 13.2% to 17.9% (Hughes, 2012).

  • Cannabis Cautioning Scheme NSW

    NSW Government introduced the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme. Under this scheme, police can issue a caution to adults in possession of up to 15g of cannabis leaf (about enough for 15-25 joints). A Caution provides a warning of the health and legal consequences of using cannabis and information on where to seek treatment. This scheme does not mean that cannabis is now legal or decriminalised. Rather that police have the discretion to issue a caution.

  • Requiem for a Dream

    The film Requiem for a Dream is released. It deals with issues of addiction and abuse of drugs including cannabis.

  • Director of Public Prosecutions in NSW criticises prohibition

    Nicholas Cowdery (Director of Public Prosecutions in NSW) criticises the war on drugs “is achieving nothing more than creating more crime”...“it is going the way of most other wars. It's costing time, it's costing money, it's costing lives, it's achieving nothing other than creating more crime, which I then have to prosecute."

  • The Hilltop Hoods release commercial breakthrough

    Australian hip-hop group The Hilltop Hoods release their commercial breakthrough The Calling. Tracks on this album and their later works contain references condoning cannabis smoking.

  • Largest cannabis bust in NSW

    In Dubbo on 29 January, an estimated $60 million worth of cannabis plants were seized.

  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

    Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is released. Movie focuses on the 'stoned' adventures of two young men.

  • Schapelle Corby arrested

    Schapelle Corby is arrested at an airport in Denpasar, Bali, with over four kilograms of cannabis. She is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2005.

  • Bliss n Eso release debut album

    Flowers in the Pavement, the debut album by Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso, features tracks which contain references to cannabis.

  • Weeds

    Weeds is launched. An American comedy series which follows a widowed mother who begins selling cannabis.

  • National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre set up

    National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre set up to educate and train health professionals with the aim of increasing early intervention and reducing the use of cannabis (Hughes, 2012).

  • National Drug Strategy Household Survey results

    National Drug Strategy Household Survey, results indicated that between 2004 and 2007 there was a reduction in the use of illicit drugs over the last 12 months (from 15% to 13%), particularly recent use of cannabis (Hughes, 2012).

  • DUMA report released

    Report found that in 2007 66% police detainees tested positive for any illicit drug (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, meth or benzodiazepines) (Hughes, 2012).

  • Chris Mainwaring dies

    Chris Mainwaring, former Australian Football League star from the West Coast Eagles, dies from a cocktail of drugs including cannabis.

  • Pineapple Express

    Pineapple Express released; an American stoner action comedy film which features cannabis.

  • Release of report on 2007 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes

    Report on crime and justice showed 10% Australians viewed drugs as the first or second most important issue facing Australia. Public support for the removal of criminal penalties for cannabis use continued to decline (Hughes, 2012).

  • National Drug Strategy Household Survey report released

    Report showed that from 2007 to 2010 the major area of reported increase was cannabis (9.1% to 10.3%) (Hughes, 2012).

  • Cannabis mimics

    The emergence of new and existing synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cannabis. This raises concerns over health and safety (Hughes, 2012).

  • "War on Drugs Fails"

    The Global Commission on Drug Policy releases a report stating that the 40-year War on Drugs has failed.

  • Increase in drug users

    The World Drug Report of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime states that "the overall number of drug users appears to have increased over the past decade, from 180 million to some 210 million people."

  • Australia21 group calls for reform

    A coalition of 24 former senior Australian politicians and experts on drug policy, including former NSW Premier Bob Carr and former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery, meet as part of Australia21 to discuss the Global Commission report’s claim that the War on Drugs has failed and possible amendments to drug laws in Australia.

  • Calls for change in national drug policy

    Thinktank Australia21, releases a report that calls for change in national drug policy, stating that the war on drugs had “failed comprehensively” and that it was “criminalising our children”. In the report former NSW Premier Bob Carr expresses regret that in his time of office the state’s police force would sweep railway stations with sniffer dogs, with a specific focus on cannabis.

  • Prime Minister Julia Gillard rejects calls for drug decriminalisation

    Prime Minister Julia Gillard rejects calls for drug decriminalisation, isolating her new Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, on the issue.