Short Papers & Summaries

Swensen G. (2009)
Legal framework involving cannabis offences in WA & recent developments.

This paper briefly outlines the framework established through the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 (MDA) with respect to cannabis offences & its inter relationship with the Cannabis Control Act 2003 (CCA), which established the CIN scheme.

Click here to view or download a PDF version (250k) of this paper.

Click here to go to the State Law Publisher to view or download copies of all Western Australia statutes & subsidiary legislation contained in the Online legislation & legislative information databases.

Swensen G. (2009)
Cannabis expiation schemes

This paper briefly summarises some of the main features of the infringement notice schemes that presently exist in South Australia (SA), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia (WA) so that offenders can expiate minor cannabis offences. It lists relevant expiable offences and penalties that are applicable in each of these jurisdictions.

Click here to view or download a PDF version (205k) of this paper.

Swensen G. (2009)
Hydroponic cannabis and potency

This paper is intended to highlight developments in the WA, SA & the ACT infringement schemes in relation to hydroponically cultivated cannabis & amendments in 2006 in New South Wales (NSW) which created new offences & increased the penalties applicable to hydroponically cultivated cannabis.

Click here to view or download a PDF version (299k) of this paper.

Swensen G. (2009)
Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 & Cannabis Control Act 2003

This paper outlines the offences & penalties under the MDA in relation to both minor & serious cannabis offences & the provisions for issuing cannabis infringement notices (CINs) under the CCA. It summarises the provisions contained in the various schedules to the MDA which set out the amounts of cannabis which determine place of trial & seriousness of offence (ie possession with intent to sell or supply).

Click here to view or download a PDF version (94k) of this paper.

Data Summaries

Comparative cannabis arrests by jurisdiction

• Estimated rate & number of cannabis arrests for each Australian jurisdiction & other selected jurisdictions in 2004. (PDF 86k)

Australian drug arrests: 1995/1996 - 2007/2008

Annual arrest data has been broken down for the period from 1995/1996 to 2007/2008, based on data extracted from statistical summaries contained in Australian Illicit Drug Data Report published annually by the Australian Crime Commission.

These summaries are presented as tables to provide data for each Australian jurisdiction of annual counts of cannabis charges broken down by seriousness (ie consumer & provider) offences, as well as the number of cannabis infringement notices issued in the jurisdictions where expiation schemes operated over this period. Additional breakdowns are included for type of drug (ie amphetamines, heroin & all drug types).

• Annual drug charges by type of drug (amphetamines, heroin, cannabis & all), Australia. (PDF 106k)
• Annual drug charges by type of drug (amphetamines, heroin, cannabis & all), Western Australia. (PDF 106k)
• Annual cannabis charges: consumer offences by Australian jurisdiction. (PDF 102k)
• Annual cannabis charges: provider offences by Australian jurisdiction. (PDF 102k)
• Annual cannabis charges (infringements & arrests): summary of all jurisdictions. (PDF 98k)