2022-2023

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023

 

No.      , 2023

 

(Senator Shoebridge)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of cannabis strains, the regulation of cannabis and the establishment of the Cannabis Australia National Agency, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2

3............ Simplified outline of this Act............................................................. 2

4............ Crown to be bound............................................................................. 3

5............ Extension to external Territories........................................................ 4

6............ Interaction with other laws................................................................. 4

Part 2—Interpretation                                                                                                         5

7............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 5

8............ Meaning of cannabis advertisement ................................................... 7

9............ Meaning of publish a cannabis advertisement ................................... 7

10.......... Meaning of regulated cannabis activity ............................................. 8

Part 3—Registration of cannabis strains                                                               10

11.......... The Register..................................................................................... 10

12.......... Power to register a cannabis strain................................................... 10

13.......... Application to register a cannabis strain.......................................... 10

14.......... Consequences of registration of a cannabis strain............................ 11

15.......... Other matters relating to the Register and registration of cannabis strains             11

Part 4—Regulation of cannabis                                                                                   12

Division 1—Offences                                                                                                     12

16.......... Offence—importation of cannabis products.................................... 12

17.......... Offence—exportation of cannabis products..................................... 12

18.......... Offence—growing cannabis plants.................................................. 12

19.......... Offence—manufacturing cannabis products.................................... 13

20.......... Offence—selling cannabis products without a licence.................... 13

21.......... Offence—selling cannabis products to minors................................ 14

22.......... Offence—allowing minors to have access to cannabis products..... 14

23.......... Offence—publishing cannabis advertisements................................ 14

24.......... Offence—publishing cannabis advertisements electronically......... 15

Division 2—Other regulated conduct                                                                    18

25.......... Possession of cannabis products by minors..................................... 18

26.......... Possession of cannabis products by other persons........................... 18

Division 3—Licences                                                                                                      19

27.......... Applications for licences.................................................................. 19

28.......... Agency may issue licences............................................................... 19

29.......... Conditions of licences—general...................................................... 20

30.......... Conditions of licences—operating a Cannabis Café........................ 21

31.......... Other matters relating to licences..................................................... 22

Division 4—Labelling, packaging and storage requirements                     23

32.......... Labelling, packaging and storage requirements for cannabis products 23

Part 5—Cannabis Australia National Agency                                                    24

Division 1—Agency’s establishment, functions, powers and liabilities 24

33.......... Cannabis Australia National Agency............................................... 24

34.......... Constitution of the Agency............................................................... 24

35.......... Functions of the Agency................................................................... 24

36.......... Powers of the Agency....................................................................... 25

37.......... Agency has privileges and immunities of the Crown....................... 25

Division 2—Chief Executive Officer                                                                       26

38.......... Chief Executive Officer.................................................................... 26

39.......... Functions of the CEO....................................................................... 26

40.......... Appointment of CEO........................................................................ 26

41.......... Acting appointments......................................................................... 26

42.......... Remuneration................................................................................... 27

43.......... Leave................................................................................................ 27

44.......... Engaging in other paid work............................................................ 27

45.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 27

46.......... Termination of appointment............................................................. 27

47.......... Other terms and conditions............................................................... 28

Division 3—Staff of the Agency etc.                                                                       29

48.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 29

49.......... Persons assisting the Agency........................................................... 29

50.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 29

Part 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                                       30

51.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 30

52.......... Delegation by the CEO..................................................................... 30

53.......... Protection from liability................................................................... 30

54.......... Review of this Act............................................................................ 31

55.......... Funding............................................................................................. 31

56.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 31

 

A Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of cannabis strains, the regulation of cannabis and the establishment of the Cannabis Australia National Agency, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: