Exclusive: attorney general’s department told territory government the proposed bill may not protect users against federal law
The Australian Capital Territory government was warned days before it legalised cannabis possession that the bill may be defective and fail to provide a defence to commonwealth offences.
Documents obtained under freedom of information show the federal attorney general’s department wrote to the ACT government warning the proposed bill may not provide an explicit “justification and excuse” needed to protect Canberra cannabis users against federal law.
Related: ‘Evolution, not revolution’: ACT cannabis users chilled about legalisation
Related: Australian Capital Territory votes to legalise cannabis for personal use
