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 561k 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 561k Australia voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 561k 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
@B4KYT5J1wk1W
Yes, but there should be some people allowed to acquire these drugs through a system, such as a 'drug license', which people can apply for with supervision from a medical doctor who knows about the condition or a local hospital. This will allow drugs to be administered but only to those who need it. licenses for particular drugs (drugs known to not have to be taken for life) should be renewed every 5 years, with close supervision from a doctor or hospital.
@B4K4MLN1wk1W
No, mandate rehabilitation instead of imprisonment for users, while implementing harsher sentences for dealers.
@B4D8JNJ2wks2W
Decriminalise drugs that offer medicinal benefits and treat addictions as a medical problem not a crime. Drug dealing should still be a criminal offence
@B495XZX3wks3W
It depends on which drugs, increase funding for addiction/rehab, if there are people in jail because of Marijuana, their sentence should be reduced.
@B2S5G9C2mos2MO
yes but massively increase support for people needing help with addictive substances, with harm reduction and rehab and housing first.
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