The Waiting Game on Cannabis Charge Data

Last week in the Legislative Council, I pressed for updated figures on cannabis offence charges and convictions here in Western Australia. My question was straightforward: How many people were charged with minor cannabis offences in 2023 and 2024, and how many were convicted?

Data in Limbo

The Attorney General’s office, via the parliamentary secretary, responded that the Department of Justice needs more time to extract and verify these crucial statistics. They expect to have an answer by late November. This isn’t just bureaucratic foot-dragging. It’s a delay in shining a light on how our justice system is dealing with cannabis offences - a delay that obscures the reality families and individuals face every day.

The Cost of Delay

As a GP turned lawmaker, I see the consequences clearly. This isn’t just about numbers or legal technicalities. When we don’t have real-time data on cannabis offence charges, policies remain out of step with what communities need. Patients and families endure uncertainty, and reform stalls while those caught in the system wait for clarity on how the law affects them.

The waiting breeds frustration and anxiety. Behind every charge is a person - a neighbour, a friend, someone’s child. Without up-to-date information, it’s impossible to judge whether current laws serve justice or perpetuate harm.

If you’re passionate about evidence-driven policies and want to stay updated on how leaders like me are fighting for transparent, compassionate reform, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It’s where science meets law, and where reform starts with facts, not fear.

Looking Ahead

We need the data to understand the scale and trends of cannabis prosecutions. Only then can we assess if minor offence charges reflect a just balance or if they contribute to unnecessary criminalisation.

Until these figures arrive, policymakers, patients, and the public are left in the dark. I will keep pushing for transparency and evidence to guide sensible change, always with a commitment to compassion and science at the centre.

For those who want to read the official record of this exchange in the Legislative Council and join the movement that is advocating for sound cannabis law reform, visit the Hansard transcript here and consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA.