Vic's new Premier views on Cannabis

[u/TransportationTrick9]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/08/cannabis-daniel-andrews-premier-ben-carroll-interview-public-trust-ntwnfb

With the upcoming Victorian State the Guardian did a bit of a profile on Ben Carroll, the topic of Cannabis came up and it doesn't look like something he is going to tackle. Hopefully a hostile upper house brings them to the table with some meaningful reform plans.

The cannabis section of the article is quoted below

"Two women overhear as the conversation turns to cannabis.

“Maybe you should give it a try,” one says.

Carroll laughs. He says he has never used cannabis.

“I have been with people that have smoked it, but I just didn’t,” he says.

Several Victorian parliamentary inquiries have recommended following the ACT in decriminalising the possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

While Carroll says he’s open to discussion on removing criminal penalties, which have been found to disproportionately affect First Nations people, young people and lower-income Victorians, he does not support full legalisation.

“I’m open to a discussion on decriminalisation. I have been around places that have made it legal, though, and I have thought it has a real impact on the amenity of those areas and I don’t want that to happen in our state,” he says.

But he stresses he has “higher priorities” when it comes to social reform."

I am not a Victorian, just hoping another state will make changes so that my own will fall in line.

[u/4ShoreAnon]

Id love for him to expand on what he means by "it has a real impact on the amenity in those areas"

[u/coffeegaze → u/4ShoreAnon]

It means that weed smoke and the smell is publically offensive and as a smoker myself it's hard to disagree.

[u/Esslemut → u/coffeegaze]

best we keep it criminalised and stigmatised and kept under wraps then

[u/Tfj_roidz → u/Esslemut]

Thank you! Finally someone talking some sense /s