Alcohol is an addictive and dangerous substance and yet we view it as an essential part of the Australian culture. In Western Australia, alcohol has been found to contribute to one in five accidental deaths. By contrast, marijuana has caused zero deaths.

In fact, unlike alcohol, marijuana has legitimate medicinal uses. It can provide pain relief, limit nausea and vomiting, and stimulate the appetite.

Making marijuana legal would allow the government to tax and regulate its production. Instead of wasting money on enforcement of the current laws, the Australian government would actually gain money through legalising marijuana. More importantly, it would have the ability to control growing conditions and ensure that the product is safe for consumption.

Australian citizens use marijuana every day. Many of them are in every other way law abiding citizens. Protect the freedom and health of Australian citizens. Demand that our country legalise marijuana.

We the undersigned believe that marijuana use should be legal in Australia.

We live in a country where alcohol use is part of our national lifestyle, even though it is a leading cause of illness, injury, and unintentional death. Marijuana, unlike alcohol, has not been found to cause death. On the contrary, it has legitimate medicinal uses including pain relief, the limitation of nausea and vomiting, and the stimulation of appetite.

Legalising marijuana would have the duel benefits of decriminalising the many average Australians who smoke it, and allowing your government to tax and control its production. Instead of wasting money persecuting people who choose to consume a substance less harmful than alcohol, you would be able to create revenue from its sale.

Thank you for taking the time to read this petition.