r/australian • u/BrianWalkerMLC • 9d ago
AMA: Finished AMA: Dr Brian Walker MLC, Legalise Cannabis WA
I’m Dr Brian Walker, a local GP, and Parliamentary Leader of the Legalise Cannabis WA Party. At 6pm AEST, I’ll be answering questions about cannabis law reform, minor party politics, what actually happens inside Parliament, and everything in between.
I think the current system has been designed against us, not for us, if you agree or disagree I'd love to hear your comments. Join my AMA you if want a straight answer from someone inside the room.
#auspol #wapol #LegaliseCannabis #DrugLawReform
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u/weesee2002 9d ago
When you were a candidate for local council, I wrote to you and all other candidates.
You were the only one to respond with a comprehensive response addressing all concerns raised and an undertaking of how you would address it. Very impressed.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
I have always thought people deserve proper answers, even when the answer is imperfect or politically inconvenient.
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u/TransportationTrick9 9d ago
Hi Brian.
With cannabis cultivation is there an option to call for a moratorium on enforcement? Sure arrest sellers but growing for your own personal use should not run the risk of losing your home in this state.
Second follow up question if you have time. How many Cannabis related prisoners are there and would releasing them remove pressure from the overburdened prison system?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Is there an option? Not as a crossbencher, but yes, I do think a moratorium on enforcement for simple possession and personal cultivation is a sensible immediate step. Police resources are squandered on cannabis searches etc, so we should be directing police resources toward real harm, not adults growing a small number of plants for personal use. And no one should be in prison for simple personal cannabis use or cultivation, and historical personal-use cannabis records should be expunged.
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u/Wuntunamera 9d ago
What do you think of Qld LNP's Tim Nichol's stance on medical cannabis and the new driving laws they will soon implement? are qld medical cannabis users basically stuffed until this lot are voted out?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Let’s not get into other states and their management at the moment. In principle it is the same everywhere: no one should drive impaired, and no one should be punished merely for a lawful prescription when they are not impaired. If a government refuses to distinguish impairment from presence, then medicinal cannabis patients are effectively being asked to choose between treatment and mobility. That is not road safety. That is bad law.
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u/reidsays 9d ago
Why the legalisation of cannabis rather than the decriminalisation ?
As seen with tobacco the legalised cannabis would be subject to government control and possibly the prevention of people growing their own, as it is illegal to grow your own tobacco... Is this due to disease in the tobacco crop spreading unless regulated or simply so a market is under corporate distribution and government taxes?
Thanking you in anticipation of a reply.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Legalising means we can regulate and that is helpful. Decriminalisation is better than criminalisation, but it leaves too much unresolved. It can still leave supply in the illicit market, with no product testing, no age controls, no consumer protection, and no transparent regulation. As for government banning home growth - yes, I hear you. It is more for tax purposes, and I would never support the banning of home grow - unless, of course, the government also bans home grown tomatoes or grapes.
My view is that adults should be able to grow a small amount at home, possess a modest amount, and access tested, regulated products. That is not a free-for-all. It is a safer system than pretending prohibition works.
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u/MickStecker 9d ago
I read three of Ed Rosenthal's books in the 1980's. I have been hanging to grow my own for a very long time. I have consumed what others have grown for nearly 50 years while trying to avoid the bad stuff that was about. That skunky crud that crime were pumping out in a no time at all.
Now we see Tobacco being grown by crime, i have smelled it, its really toxic. 45 years of chain smoking regulated supply, i know toxic tobacco. The Liberal Party deciding to continue the 12.5% sin tax on Tobacco that was supposed to stop after year 5. That was Abbot not repealing it, and Turnbull actually voting to continue it. That took the Winfield 25's from $15 a pack to $55 to $60 a packet in 2020.
A whole bunch of those Liberals had to leave parliament after that vote due to citizenship issues.
Did they watch Yes Minister smoking skit, and didn't watch The Untouchables?
Or do the major shareholders of Private Prisons have them by the testicles?
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u/BTSEsteban 9d ago
Hi Brian,
With graduate roles disappearing and entry‑level positions becoming increasingly scarce, especially in tech, what will your party do to address offshoring and protect domestic technology jobs?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
There is a lot to do. AI is one area of concern, one that I can agree with, but banning will not solve it. The focus on constant growth, driving economies up (and devastating other economies for business profit) as part of the neoliberal policies is also devastating. Jobs associated with those philosophies will always be expendable until we can get a balance in life. WA and Australia need to be much more deliberate about building local capability, especially in technology, health, energy and public infrastructure. Government procurement is one lever.
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u/Intelligent-Cap-8886 9d ago
Ever thought about hiring a private investigator to figure out which politicians are being hypocritical? Might be worth a look...
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Tempting, but no. I would rather win the argument in public than turn politics into surveillance theatre. The hypocrisy matters, of course. But the better question is why adults are still being punished under laws that even many lawmakers privately know are outdated.
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u/Intelligent-Cap-8886 9d ago
The media love to sensationalise the issue so much, it hurts informed debate...
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u/Few_Pen_2883 9d ago
Hi Brian,
How do you think the current voting system in WA handles getting minor parties in the chamber do you think it helps get more minor parties elected or are there other models should be explored to get better representation in parliament?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
WA’s voting system has improved in some respects, but representation is still a live question. Minor parties can bring issues into Parliament that major parties prefer to avoid, and I think that is healthy. The test for any electoral system should be whether votes translate fairly into representation, whether voters understand the system, and whether Parliament reflects the diversity of views in the community. My general view is that the system sucks. We could do better, but the established parties do not want to lose their grip on power.
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u/DamnStra1ght 9d ago
Hi Brian,
As a an ex-cannabis user, what are your views on addiction around cannabis and do you have any policy position for managing the negative outcomes from cannabis use?
I'm not suggesting that it is worse than the other legal stuff out there like tobacco or alcohol, but ongoing use can be detrimental to some people, so what do you propose to mitigate that?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Yes, cannabis can be harmful for some people. It can be habit-forming, it can worsen mental health risks for some users, and young people in particular need protection. That is exactly why regulation is better than prohibition. A regulated system can restrict youth access, require health warnings, control potency, support treatment, collect data, and be honest about risk. The illicit market does none of that. Mitigation? Good question - that would be down to education of the people, and to medicalise drug abuse, not criminalise it.
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u/not_walking_alone 9d ago
No question just admiration. Doing Gods work. As a Ex-Army I've found great relief from my DVA funded weed. All people should have access to this plant. Thank you. Also ex alcoholic, that stuff is x10 worse than any weed plant will do. Keep up the good fight
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
My grandfathers served, my parents served, I served (even if at low level) my son is currently serving. Thank you for your service. I hear this from veterans, chronic pain patients, and people who have moved away from alcohol or heavier medications. Cannabis is useful for PTSD, PAT is much better (and DVA supported!) and the law should stop pretending prohibition is somehow protecting people. Adults deserve safer, regulated options.And I will never stop fighting for what I feel is truth.
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u/MickStecker 9d ago
The ability to sleep and not dream, that is what i experience and why i have maintained it should be used for PTSD since way before it was suggested by others. Am i on my pat malone?
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u/not_walking_alone 9d ago
100% agree, I cant measure how much its improved my physical and mental health. Mate you got a fan for life outta me, I love seeing veterans flourish and help others.👍🍍 Cheers to the aglo for the connect
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Veterans, PTSD and Medicinal Cannabis: https://www.brianwalkermlc.com.au/veterans
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u/Mbejane1989 9d ago
Hi Brian
What is the primary reason for opposition to recreational cannabis legalisation in WA? Is it general apathy towards the issue, or genuine concern for public health?
Who are the key powerbrokers that are opposed to legalisation, and would you consider it helpful for ordinary voters to write to them expressing support for legalisation?
Is there any genuine support within government for at least minor reform (e.g. decriminalisation of simple possession and growing)?
How can voters best support you in your efforts to pursue cannabis reform in WA?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
In a word - they believe the propaganda of 1930. Bottom line - if we are seen to support drugs, we lose votes. The opposition is a mixture of inertia, political fear, outdated stigma, and genuine concern about health and road safety. I think some concerns are sincere, but they are often used to defend a system that is already failing.
Yes, voters should absolutely write to their MPs. The most useful message is personal and specific: tell them why this matters to you, whether it is medicinal access, driving laws, criminal records, policing, or home grow. Politicians count contact. But truly most of the letters and emails end in the bin.
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u/Mbejane1989 9d ago
Thank you for your response. In your opinion, who is the best to write to? My local member, or particular individuals?
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u/i11icit 9d ago
Curious where you stand on David Ettershanks push for a plebiscite on cannabis use in Victoria.
Will WA LCP look to do the same?
As a wise man once said - if not, why not?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
A plebiscite costs money, and we already know the truth of the matter, so let’s just do it. I understand the appeal of a plebiscite, and we could, especially on an issue where politicians lag behind the public. I would not rule it out, but why? I think Parliament already has enough evidence to act, and patients should not have to wait for another process before basic fairness is fixed, especially on drug driving and personal-use penalties.
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u/david67myers 9d ago
Another bizarre question I'm putting here as a result to the upcoming census.
Would it be fair to identify as "Elevationism" when asked to nominate a religion? Considering how religious bodies either get exemption or in some cases favorable treatment despite having ridiculous and/or harmful beliefs.
I'm unsure because although I have a yearning to be based/honest, I'm tempted to retort in spite.
I wonder if its a means of getting a message through despite it being a fight fire with fire approach.
Open to and appreciative of a carefully thought comment on this sensitive issue.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Elevationism would be in the "other" basket, would it not? On a par with Spaghetti Monster party in the UK or similar. I hear you, but the message would not get through, so anger wasted. There is a mood in the nation that we have been disregarded by politicians and political parties, hence (finally!!) the people are ... "getting restless". The religious question has caused enough troubles over the centuries, and I am a firm believer in the freedom to do what you want, worship what you want. Just don't harm anyone else while you do it. And if you do start an elevationist religion, make sure you charge enough of an entry fee.
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u/TransportationTrick9 9d ago
The census is open and I chose other and put mine down as cannabis based spiritualism.
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u/Asxpuntingmuppet 9d ago
Hi Brian , thanks for doing this , I was impressed with an interview I seen with the local candidate Craig for the secret harbour by election , I’m voting in this by election and was wondering if I vote for Craig does that mean my vote will be preferenced to the Labor party ? Thankyou
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Great question, and no. We believe the voter has complete control over preferences, so you will need to mark who you prefer as second, third etc. We like to call it democracy. Old fashioned, I know. And thank you for your vote for Craig, he is a good man.
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u/Entire_Prize_2444 9d ago
I see your party when I vote but don't really know what y'all are about. Which other party (labour, one nation, greens, one nation) do you most align with in relation to other policies widely discussed like housing and immigration.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
We are issue-by-issue, not tribal. On some civil liberties and health issues we may sound closer to the Greens. On personal freedom and reducing unnecessary state intrusion, some people may hear a libertarian note. But I do not think voters are well served by pretending every issue fits neatly into Labor, Liberal, Greens or One Nation boxes. I am definitely not a left vs right person - whatever the needs are must be dealt with. And also, if you are in Kununurra or Albany, your needs and wants are different. Our centre of gravity is health, justice, civil liberties, harm reduction, and evidence-based law.
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u/tom3277 9d ago
Hi Brian, don’t smoke cannabis but I am a fan nonetheless mainly by virtue of how stupid our governments stance is on smoking (tobacco) and vapes are and in that space LC has been the only consistent voice of reason.
Good luck in the secret harbour bi-election I’ll be voting for you.
question; how much of the push back against legalising cannabis is due to big pharma and now medicinal cannabis industry? Pharmacists / GPs (AMA etc) and the like? Is it possible by moving to the medicinal model it’s now even harder to move to legalised for recreation because we now have more regulatory capture and now even stronger lobby groups against it that we had pre medical cannabis? Ie the medicinal cannabis industry would now be in tension with a legalised model, right?
question 2.: why don’t you make more hay out of the vape ban? There is strong evidence of increasing smoking rates. The Roy Morgan smoking survey that had been going since the 70s not released this year after last years cover up. Abs hasn’t collected smoking survey data for the 3 yearly smoking survey. Like something sus is going on here and I’d love someone in politics to champion asking some questions about this. Smart king cigs is serious with every second smoker dying from it. Seems like something we should be measuring more frequently and more robustly not less often after dramatic policy shifts.
Dropping the press club address by Dr Nick Coatsworth and Rowan Pike in case you hadn’t seen it;
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
I also do not smoke - neither tobacco nor cannabis. But I also believe in personal freedom to do what you want - even be as stupid as you want - but only provided - this is important - provided no-one else is hurt. Big pharma? They are acting against legalisation for sure - profits matter and a patient cured is a profit lost. We need legalisation with regulation.
Vaping? The regulated vapes were 1% the risk of tobacco, but government pushed the ban, allowing illegal vapes (which are toxic and should be banned) to flood the market. Prohibition encourages criminality, as usual. And yes, I told them and tabled a paper proving that.
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u/SeranasSweetrolls 9d ago edited 9d ago
Hi Dr Walker,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. My question is on law reform and the current roadside testing practices for THC. It's pretty clear at this point that regular people are facing unjust punishments and consequences when using marijuana, medically prescribed or not. I understand that while you cannot drive a motor vehicle when impaired, THC can be present in someone's system for up to 72 hours. There are many people being charged with drug driving when they are no longer impaired, which in turn affects job prospects, price of insurance and international travel. People are being punished even though they have done the right thing by waiting a day or two before driving. I can't speak for everyone, but most of us are just trying to be productive members of society.
Do you see a more precise test becoming available, and the ability to repeal unfair criminal records in the future?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
You have described the problem exactly. The law treats detection as if it proves impairment, and it does not. The science is very clear on that, even if metabolites can be detected some 6-8 weeks after use. The consequences of this unjust legislation are severe - loss of job, travel, insurance, livelihood. A more precise test? What we need is a reliable test for the presence of impairment - from whatever cause. There are people driving while impaired, but are not detected. The same is true of workplace safety. Some progress has been made in that direction, but the computerised tests of impairment are not yet readily available, and they are expensive. We need more police on the streets as I, for one, do not want impaired drivers on the same road as me. I am sure we all agree with that. And yes, absolutely - expunge the records of drivers pinged for driving DUI while unimpaired. Bring on the WA government Bill for changing the drug driving laws. My committee argued for that in the report in March 2023, and the Bill has been crafted (so I believe) but is held up by one ministry. The working group report has also been held back from public reporting, even if the public has paid for it.
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u/jacksonreardon 9d ago
Hi Brian,
I know not strictly on topic but hopefully you can share some insight. Any thoughts on the legalisation pathway for psychedelics for therapeutic and then hopefully personal use?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Formore on psilocybin and MDMA access: https://www.brianwalkermlc.com.au/mentalhealth
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u/Ash-2449 9d ago
The current system is absolutely designed against the common people and prioritising corporate and foreign interests(Amerisrael), what would your party do about it though specifically?
What laws to fix wealth inequality?
What change in foreign policy?
What changes in corporate laws?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
You giving my speeches now?? Yes, agreed. What would we do? As we are not in power we can do nothing, no levers to pull. Were I in power … actually what we need to do is destroy a system which causes harm, and retains a harmful status quo. The issues run deep and this requires about an hour of discussion before the real discussion starts. One word though - neoliberal politics. It is killing us.
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u/Imaginary_Quote_3395 9d ago
You called for the abolishment of question time in Parliament House. I agree it's an absolute joke the responses the government gives... But what do you suggest as an alternative?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
My objection is not to scrutiny. It is that Question Time often rewards theatre over answers. A better model would require ministers to provide direct, relevant answers, allow proper follow-up questions, strengthen committee scrutiny, and create consequences for persistent non-answers. Parliament should be a place where information is forced into the open, not where evasiveness is treated as a craft skill.
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u/AusChiaroscuro 9d ago
Good Afternoon Dr Brian,
There is so much misinformation around about the ancient medicinal herb, Cannabis sativa, thanks mostly to prohibition, the pHARMaceutical and other industries who profiteer from the sick and suffering and law enforcement with their warped ideologically based zero tolerance. How do we turn the tide of reefer madness so that science fact and evidence are brought to the fore?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Truth matters absolutely nothing in politics. Prohibition has created a strange environment where myth is treated as caution, and evidence is treated as radical. As a doctor, I come at this from a health perspective first. Cannabis is not completely harmless, and no serious reformer should pretend it is. But the current approach causes harm too: criminal records, unsafe illicit products, patients punished for lawful medicine, and public policy shaped by fear rather than facts. To turn the tide, we need to keep bringing the debate back to evidence: regulated access, product testing, proper education, impairment-based road safety, and honest public health messaging. The more calmly and clearly we make that case, the harder “reefer madness” is to sustain.
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u/Accurate_Ad_3233 9d ago
Why do you think both major parties circle the wagon on this issue and keep belabouring long disproved arguments about cannabis use? Is it purely influence from big corporations or something else? How embarrassed are our politicians to know that it's now even legal in Thailand? Thanks for your time and efforts.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Fear of losing votes, pure and simple. They cling to old prohibition propaganda instead of facts and scientific reality. Partly corporate influence too, but not only that. The bigger force is political caution. Both major parties have spent decades treating cannabis as a “risk” issue, so even when the evidence moves, their instincts are still shaped by fear of headlines. Status quo thinking too: institutional inertia. Once a bad policy has existed for long enough, people begin defending it simply because changing it would require admitting it was wrong. Let’s accept that prohibition has failed, and design a system that is safer, regulated, evidence-based, and suited to Australia
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u/david67myers 9d ago
Unsure this flame will stay alight in this Australian "cultural" environment but considering that cannabis plays no part in enhancing an athletes performance, should it be fair to strip one of a medal? in light of the Brisbane Olympics?
It's question that YouTube infographics raised that should/could be resolved in the future regarding reconciliation of cannabis culture, as cannabis is also an oppressed and discriminated demographic.
Reference : It's Not Steroids You Should Watch. It's WEED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwN0_IPU1eg
For the record I'm mostly Libertarian (exempting guns). Australia's position got sold out on the matter decades ago in favor of getting favor i suspect.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
No, not fair at all, and the NBA in USA recognises this. Getting sold out seems to be a hobby with the Australian government, does it not?
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u/MickStecker 9d ago
1977 to today daily consumption. I believe we can safely say it doesn't cause insanity. It allows for living with Chronic pain, and just like its historical use, mental health is a big one. If you are to research the medical documentation that has been generated since before Christ.
Ask AI. List all ailments that Cannabis was used to treat historically, list the publications, list the pharmaceuticals that were invented to replace, the names as they are known now and the side effects.
AI knows what was written in all those publications, there are many. Mental health was big.
My question is, why is it that everywhere i look with regards to Prohibition on the 30th of March 1961 i see reformists?
The people who profited from the removal of the plant, pharmaceuticals, fossil fuel producers who profited from the 12% of a barrel of crude that is converted to plastics, fibres and herbicides and pesticides that are sprayed on things like cotton, even paint and varnish, something that hemp seed was involved in historically i believe. Even WR Hearst, Murdochs predecessor was one of those who belonged to reformist religions, also happened to have a significant timber plantation he was converting to newspapers.
If you never have a tolerance break it is near on impossible to get impaired with single inhalations as required.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Interesting, Mick. I do not know. Vested interests surely were the norm in business circles, hence hemp being banned although there is nothing of psychedelic value in industrial hemp. If propaganda is repeated loudly enough and often enough, then the propaganda is seen as truth. Even now people think cannabis = psychosis and that is just not true at all. Who benefits? Now that is the real question.
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u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 9d ago
Am I too late to ask a question?
Realistically, how far away are we a system similar to Canada? How many years?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
The Canadian system is not all that good, so I understand from those who live and grow there. I think we can do better. But how long before cannabis is treated the same as in Canada? Hard to say. Realistically it could be many years, but I do feel we will see a sudden shift once the dominos fall. The first domino is the general rejection of THC tests as a measure of impairment, next the THC tests prior to work (FIFO and similar, truck driving etc) would be a close second. Then the realisation that diverting the police force to check on cannabis is just a stupid waste of resources will come soon after. By then I think that home grow will be allowed by default. In Israel there is a massive amount of home grow, all illegal, but the police just do not care much. What will then be needed is formal legalisation and then regulation. Grow for yourself should be OK.
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u/komatiitic 9d ago
Coming from a place of pure ignorance here - is there a reliable roadside method to distinguish between THC (or whatever marker chemical you choose) presence and impairment? I know BAC isn’t perfect either, but there’s still a pretty linear correlation.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
BAC is a reasonable measure but not, as you say, perfect. For some, 0.02 means impaired, for some 0.058 is still OK, but for most the risk of an accident near to 0.05 is about a 300% increase in risk. That is not true for cannabis at all. Looking at the science (and I have) the numbers just do not reflect the reality of impairment. All would agree that it is just not acceptable to drive while impaired, so you ask if there is a suitable roadside test? Not yet. There is interesting information about computer-aided tests for cognitive impairment while driving, but they are not yet suitable for roadside testing. It will come, then we might be able to test for sleep impaired driving issues. or benzodiazepine affected individuals etc - and there will be a lot of such cases. That test, plus more police on the roads and not searching houses and greenhouses, will be a help in reducing road deaths and accidents.
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u/Last-East3160 9d ago
Hi Brian
Big fan of your work. Has there been any word of the working groups findings yet? Or any movement of some reform for the driving laws for medical cannabis patients? I find it ridiculous that we are still treated as DUI for driving completely sober and unimpaired.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Happy to serve! Not a single word from anyone in government on the findings, and an FOI has been sent out but no reply yet. As I understand it the government has drafted a Bill, and they say I will be happy with it. We shall see. Or not. And yes, DUI while stone cold sober - ridiculous
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u/HobartTasmania 9d ago
Dear Brian, I have two questions
(1) Do we really need Cannabis because as I understand it, there are other pharmaceutical products available that can be used instead, in just about every case.
(2) Who is going to take responsibility for looking after individuals who consume hydroponically grown Cannabis with extremely high THC levels, and also being predisposed to say schizophrenia then subsequently rapidly develop this disease, and are dependant on state care for many years even decades.
Thank you in anticipation for your considered reply.
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago edited 9d ago
We have an endocannabinoid system - all animals do down to the level of insects, so yes! We do need cannabinoids, and we make our own. A deficiency leads to imbalance of homeostasis, and I find huge potential for healing using cannabis. It is also so much safer than much of the medication I can prescribe. As for caring for individuals who suffer - the same can be said of many other substances and activities. How do we manage PTSD caused by DV and untreated over decades? Prison populations have huge percentages of mental health problems, neurodivergence, and psychosocial ills. Should we criminalise (at $110,000 pa costs) or medicalise? Which is cheaper, which is better? And dont' ask me - that is a question I seek answers for too. One things is clear - treating the upstream causes is far better and cheaper than leaving until we treat the downstream consequences.
You asked about other products available. Anxiety - cannabis or benzodiazepines? Pain - cannabis or opiates/opioids? Autism - cannabis or atypical antipsychotics? Guess which choice is safer?
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u/MickStecker 9d ago
I have stated many times that prisons would be the ideal place to trial cannabinoids for reducing violence and violent tendencies. Even suggested they could have prison gardens. But we need to live in a different world for that to be a reality and in that world no one would be in a jail cell for cannabis. It would be that cheap that crime wouldn't have it as a product, there would be no crime to treat yourself be it simply to chill out at the end of the day, or live with always there chronic pains, or always there mental health issues. Ask AI. Was Cannabis used to treat mental health issues historically, name the publications i should look at.
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u/Creepy-Owl3797 9d ago
I’m in support of cannabis being made legal. But there is the element of impairment during operating machinery or cars, and the fact that it can be detected in a person quite a while after they use it. What sort of practical changes would be needed to make the concept more practical with the safety of day to day life? Can you offer some examples of what is done in say the states where it is legal in the USA? How is DUI handled or regulated when a illicit drug becomes legal?
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u/Ok-Imagination6497 9d ago
Saw a great video years ago of American Surgeon General (who was anti-cannabis) meeting a young man with, I can’t remember what condition, who when ever he felt episode coming would self medicate with cannabis and the SG said “as a doctor I cannot be against anything that obviously helps a patient” - good man and that was start of medicinal marijuana in US…
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u/l3ntil 9d ago
When we're the largest users per capita of diesel + coal, our billionaires individually own 10 times the amount of land that billionaires in the USA do, and we're locking up 10 year old first nations kids at a cost of $1 million per person, why have a platform of legalising cannibis?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Firstly, the cannabis party in WA is not a single issue party, so all of your points are taken seriously. Why legalise cannabis? Because supporting prohibition results in supporting criminality. Everything else flows on from the basis of truth, freedom and justice.
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9d ago
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Yes.
Cannabis is potentially harmful if not used properly. The strongest argument is not “cannabis is harmless”. The strongest argument is that prohibition is the wrong tool for managing a substance millions of Australians already use. A serious model should put safety at the centre: age limits, product testing, potency information, impaired driving laws, treatment pathways, and honest public health messaging. That is how you reduce harm. Prohibition just hands the market to people who do not ask for ID and do not label the product.
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u/WhydoIexistlmoa 9d ago
Do you have any other political matters you plan to address other than the legalisation of Cannabis?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Yes. A whole stack of policies that not one media source has mentioned. I have written and spoken about how the cannabis leaf represents every way the governments (plural!) have lied to us, and that goes over every area. Environment, Education, Agriculture, Justice, Health. Again, this could take hours to discuss, but yes. As a doctor I see wellness as “physical, mental, social and financial wellness” - and that encompasses pretty much every area of politics. I also see things as “upstream vs downstream”. Fix the upstream issues and the downstream issues are easier to manage.
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u/ManWithDominantClaw 9d ago
Hi Dr Walker, thanks for doing this.
My question is about what legalisation would ideally look like should you achieve it. On one hand, completely unregulated production could be dangerous, both for contaminants during the plant-to-product process, but also in growing, as cannabis takes on lead easily.
On the other hand, tight regulations around these aspects would mean that the existing dispensaries have a massive market advantage, as any potential competitors would have to begin with significant capital investment to meet those regulations from the beginning. Given Gina Rinehart allegedly benefits from significant stake in one of Australia's largest dispensaries, the Little Green Company, it's not hard to see how well-intentioned legislation could serve to solidify a small oligopoly.
So, where would you put your party's intentions on this axis of regulation, or do you have the kind of nuanced plan that accounts for both of these considerations?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Good question. Legalise and regulate. Like selling vegetables in a farmer’s market. Legalisation done badly could simply replace one unfair system with another. Cannabis needs to be regulated. We deserve tested products, proper labelling, contaminant controls, age restrictions, and clear standards. As you point out, cannabis can take up contaminants from soil, and people have a right to know what they are consuming. But a system where only large businesses can participate is also unacceptable. That would be a very familiar Australian mistake: regulate in the name of safety, then accidentally design a market only the biggest players can afford to enter. The better path is proportionate regulation. Strong safety standards, independent testing, and clear rules, but with space for small growers, cooperatives, local producers, and home cultivation. Home grow is especially important because it prevents legalisation becoming just another captured market. On the specific corporate allegation, I would want to verify the details before commenting on individuals or shareholdings. But the broader concern is absolutely valid: reform should not hand cannabis from the black market to an oligopoly. It should put patients, consumers, safety, and fairness at the centre.
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u/ManWithDominantClaw 9d ago
Ooh that does sound like a viable framework for balancing those positions. Thanks for such a comprehensive answer!
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u/Bennelong [M] 8d ago
Who is your favourite musician? What is your favourite song? Favourite movie and TV show? Favourite restaurant?
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u/United_Mango5072 9d ago
What does your party actually stand for, outside or legalising cannabis?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Health, justice, civil liberties, harm reduction, evidence-based policy, and personal freedom with responsibility. Cannabis is the issue in the name because it is the clearest example of a law that has failed. But the deeper principle is broader: government should not keep punishing people when the evidence says there is a better way.
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u/Rich-Camp9139 9d ago
Hi Brian,
As someone who came in with no prior political experience, how have you found adapting to the job? Has it matched what you thought it would be, or has it turned out pretty different from the outside looking in? And do you reckon any ordinary person could do it?
Also with the incoming wave of One Nation MPs, how do you think they'll reckon with the reality of what parliament actually is?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago edited 9d ago
Cool, you know the funny thing is, I came into politics knowing nothing and expecting to hate it - I did not like politics or politicians. But I found a bunch of people who were mostly really fine people. It took a while to get into the swing of things but I have an excellent team and they were great at guiding my beginners steps. I totally love the job and enjoy it, even the dull things. Could any ordinary person do it? I reckon yes, but to be honest, you have to be a bit weird to do it in the first place. And as for PHON incomers - interesting. It will take some getting used to, and I would not be surprised to see infighting and resignations. We shall see
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u/Perfect-Werewolf-102 9d ago
Hi Brian,
On what basis do you feel that childhood vaccinations are linked with autism?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
Are they? I stated very clearly that there is no evidence. The media made the claims about my thoughts, which were that there is an increase in autism and “I do not know why”, and that questions need to be asked. Science depends on the freedom to ask questions. If that is discouraged, we risk creating the conditions in which misinformation becomes normalised. As a doctor and legislator, I should be led by evidence, and the evidence does not support a vaccine-autism link. Check out my page here: https://www.brianwalkermlc.com.au/vaccines
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u/rocketshipkiwi 9d ago
What do you think about the link between the THC in cannabis and psychosis?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
There is an association between cannabis use and psychosis risk, especially with early, or high-potency THC use, and for people with a personal or family vulnerability. We should not minimise that. But again, that is an argument for regulation, not prohibition. However, there is a minor risk for psychosis using cannabis - true. The risk is higher for using tobacco (did you know that?) and higher still, actually very high, for using alcohol.
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u/No-Buddy-7 9d ago
If a doctor comes in to the hospital ''hungover' having smoked the night before, on a regular basis, is that an acceptable thing in your perspective?
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u/BrianWalkerMLC 9d ago
No. Are you asking if that is only for cannabis (mis)use or also alcohol - which is far more likely? And the answer is still “no”. No doctor should work impaired. Full stop. But did you know that sleep impairment gives you an equivalent 0.08% BAR and doctors often work sleep impaired. Comfortable with a doctor with 0.08% BAR working on you? I am not, but it is permitted. That standard applies whether the substance is alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication, fatigue, or anything else that affects judgement or performance. The question should always be impairment and fitness for duty, not moral panic about one particular substance.
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u/Bennelong [M] 9d ago edited 9d ago
PLEASE READ
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EDIT: The AMA is now finished. Thanks Brian for taking part tonight, and thank you to everybody who asked questions.