Recreational use of illicit drugs including marijuana, cocaine and heroin is currently illegal in Australia. In 1985, the federal and state governments adopted a National Drug Strategy which included a pragmatic mixture of prohibition and a stated objective of harm reduction. Between 1998 and 2007 overall illicit drug use declined close to 40%. Amphetamines use declined by 38%; cannabis use fell by close to 50%; and use of heroin dropped by an impressive 75%. In February 2016 parliament amended the Narcotics Drugs Act, and created a national licensing scheme for the controlled cultivation and testing of medical cannabis.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Local Government Area
State Electorate
Response rates from 559k Australia voters.
49% Yes |
51% No |
37% Yes |
41% No |
10% Yes, for most but not all drugs |
7% No, but decriminalise drugs that offer medicinal benefits such as marijuana |
1% Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time |
2% No, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation |
1% No, we should pass tougher drug laws |
|
0% No, and increase punishment for drug dealers |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 559k Australia voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 559k Australia voters.
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Unique answers from Australia voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@4ZJVPR54yrs4Y
Only Marijuana and tax it at 99%. Life sentences for anyone who grows their own
@4THS3BK4yrs4Y
No, we should have the political will to remove the drugs from our streets. I'm sure the authorities know who the dealers/importers are and are most likely to be. I honestly think that it is such a lucrative black market business that the government turns a blind eye or lacks the political will to enforce the law.
@8KYXNYH4yrs4Y
Strongly support medical license drugs such as marijuana and ketamine - though wish to keep them medicinal
@B4BRQXT6 days6D
Yes, for most but not for all drugs, and reteoactively reduce sentences for those already serving time.
@B495XZX1wk1W
It depends on which drugs, increase funding for addiction/rehab, if there are people in jail because of Marijuana, their sentence should be reduced.
@B493FQZ1wk1W
Controlled by Government like in Portugal, shouldn't be controlled by the free market initially, until real world impacts are seen.
@B492J8C1wk1W
Yes but not for all drugs and implement a system to manage use while operating machinery and cars similar to alcohol.
@B2JPYVW2mos2MO
Decriminalise marijuana, increase addiction prevention and rehab funding, reduce sentences for non-violent possession crimes, increase punishment for dealers and drug traffickers
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