Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation Act 2019

Act No. 24 of 2019. Introduced by /u/PM-ME-SPRINKLES. Assented to 2019-06-23.

2019

The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



Presented and read a first time




Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation
(Drugs Are Cool!) Bill 2019
No. , 2018
Written by CircleSongIsDank MP
Introduced by PM-ME-SPRINKLES (different 2R speech)



A Bill for an Act to legalise and regulate certain
psychoactive substances for recreational use, to
reduce the penalties for illegal drug possession, and
for related purposes
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                                   1
                1   Short title ...................................................................................................... 1
                2   Commencement ............................................................................................ 2
                3   Schedules...................................................................................................... 2
                4   Definitions .................................................................................................... 2
                5   Application to the States ............................................................................... 3

Part 2—Licences                                                                                                                      4
                6 Categories of licences ................................................................................... 4
                7 Application for licences ................................................................................ 4
                8 Vendor licence.............................................................................................. 4
                9 Manufacturer’s licence ................................................................................. 4
                10 Application and disqualification of licences ............................................... 4
                11 Regulations ................................................................................................. 5

Part 3—Penalties                                                                                                                     6
                12 Supply of recreational psychoactive substances to minors
                        prohibited .......................................................................................... 6
                13 Power to demand suspected minor to give their age ................................... 6
                14 Offences by minors..................................................................................... 6
                15 Unlicensed supply of recreational psychoactive substances ....................... 7
                16 Adulterated recreational psychoactive substances ...................................... 7
                17 Licence and permits to be displayed ........................................................... 7
                18 Licence conditions ...................................................................................... 8
                19 Consumption of certain recreational psychoactive compounds in
                        public places ...................................................................................... 8
                20 Consumption of recreational psychoactive compounds while doing
                        certain activities ................................................................................. 8
                21 Seizure of recreational psychoactive substances from minors .................... 9
                22 Recreational psychoactive substances must be clearly labelled .................. 9

Schedule 1—Amendments to the Criminal Code Act 1995                                                                               10
          Criminal Code Act 1995                                                                                                   10
                301.1A Application of this Act to recreational psychoactive
                        substances ........................................................................................ 10

Schedule 2—Amendments to the Criminal Code Regulations
           2002                                                                                                                   11
          Criminal Code Regulations 2002                                                                                           11


No.   ,             Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.                                                        i
20189
Schedule 3— Amendments to the Crimes (Traffic in Narcotic
           Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act 1990                        12
       Crimes (Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act
       1990                                                                    12




ii      Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019      No.   ,
                                                                             20189
 1   A Bill for an Act to legalise and regulate certain
 2   psychoactive substances for recreational use, to
 3   reduce the penalties for illegal drug possession, and
 4   for related purposes
 5   The Parliament of Australia enacts:

 6   Part 1—Preliminary
 7


 8   1 Short title
 9              This Act is the Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are
10              Cool!) Act 2019.


      No.   ,        Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019   1
      20189
     Part 1 Preliminary



     Section 2

 1   2 Commencement
 2              (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table
 3                  commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with
 4                  column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect
 5                  according to its terms.
 6

          Commencement information
          Column 1              Column 2                                            Column 3
          Provisions            Commencement                                        Date/Details
          1. The whole of       Royal Assent                                        Royal Assent
          this Act
 7                     Note:     This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally
 8                               enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of
 9                               this Act.

10              (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act.
11                  Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it
12                  may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

13   3 Schedules
14                     Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or
15                     repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule
16                     concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect
17                     according to its terms.

18   4 Definitions
19                     In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
20                     recreational psychoactive substance means any of the following
21                     substances or their analogues, salts, esters or precursors, plants
22                     containing the following substances or their analogues, salts, esters
23                     or precursors, or other items containing the following substances or
24                     their analogues, salts, esters or precursors:
25                       (a) Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);
26                       (b) Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);


      2           Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019                No.   ,
                                                                                                 20189
                                                                           Preliminary Part 1



                                                                                    Section 5

 1               (c)    N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT);
 2               (d)    4-PO-Dimethyltryptamine (Psilocybin);
 3               (e)    3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine (Mescaline);
 4               (f)    Ketamine;
 5               (g)    Salvinorin A (Salvia);
 6               (h)    Harmine (Harmala alkaloid);
 7               (i)    Cannabis; or
 8               (j)    3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
 9
10              minor means a person who is under the age of 18.

11   5 Application to the States
12              Where this Act conflicts with State legislation, this Act is to apply
13              to the extent of the inconsistency.




      No.   ,          Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.          3
      20189
     Part 2 Licences



     Section 6

 1   Part 2—Licences
 2   6 Categories of licences
 3                 The Minister may issue licences in the following categories:
 4                  (a) vendor licence; and
 5                  (b) manufacturer’s licence.

 6   7 Application for licences
 7                 A body corporate or a person who is not a minor, and not
 8                 disqualified from holding from holding such a licence, may apply
 9                 to the Minister for the grant of a licence or licences.

10   8 Vendor licence
11                 A vendor licence authorises the licensee to:
12                  (a) purchase recreational psychoactive substances from a
13                      manufacturer holding a manufacturer’s licence; and
14                  (b) sell recreational psychoactive substances to a person who is
15                      not a minor.

16   9 Manufacturer’s licence
17                 A manufacturer’s licence authorises the licensee to:
18                  (a) manufacture recreational psychoactive substances; and
19                  (b) sell recreational psychoactive substances to the holder of a
20                      vendor licence.

21   10 Application and disqualification of licences
22                 The Minister may issue an order of disqualification or an order of
23                 surrender of a licence if:
24                   (a) a licensee requests a Minister to do so; or
25                   (b) the Minister is of the opinion that a licensee has contravened
26                       this Act.




      4          Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019   No.   ,
                                                                                   20189
                                                                          Licences Part 2



                                                                             Section 11

1   11 Regulations
2             The Minister may make any regulations in relation to the granting,
3             regulation and removal of vendor and manufacturer’s licences.




    No.   ,       Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.           5
    20189
     Part 3 Penalties



     Section 12

 1   Part 3—Penalties
 2


 3   12 Supply of recreational psychoactive substances to minors
 4             prohibited
 5            (1) A person must not:
 6                 (a) supply recreational psychoactive substances; or
 7                 (b) permit or facilitate the supply of recreational psychoactive
 8                     substances.
 9                Penalty: 20 penalty units.

10   13 Power to demand suspected minor to give their age
11            (1) If a member of the Police Force, licensee or employee or agent of a
12                licensee has reason to believe that a person appearing to be a
13                minor:
14                  (a) has requested;
15                  (b) has received;
16                  (c) has consumed;
17                  (d) is consuming; or
18                  (e) is about to consume;
19                a recreational psychoactive substance, the member of the Police
20                Force, licensee or employee or agent of a licensee may demand
21                particulars of the person’s age, name and address.
22            (2) A person must not:
23                 (a) refuse to give particulars of their age, name and address;
24                 (b) give any false particulars of their age, name and address; or
25                 (c) supply any false evidence as to their age, name or address;
26                Penalty: 5 penalty units

27   14 Offences by minors
28            (1) A minor must not:
29                 (a) Purchase or receive recreational psychoactive substances; or


      6         Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019   No.   ,
                                                                                  20189
                                                                                Penalties Part 3



                                                                                    Section 15

 1                    (b) possess or consume recreational psychoactive substances.
 2                  Penalty: 5 penalty units.

 3   15 Unlicensed supply of recreational psychoactive substances
 4              (1) A person who is not a licensee must not supply recreational
 5                  psychoactive substances.
 6              (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the sale of recreational
 7                  psychoactive substances by an employee or agent of a licensee if
 8                  the sale is in accordance with the licence and this Act.
 9                  Penalty: 30 penalty units.

10   16 Adulterated recreational psychoactive substances
11              (1) A person, whether a licensee or not, must not knowingly supply
12                  adulterated recreational psychoactive substances.
13              (2) If a person is convicted of an offence under this section, the court
14                  shall also order all recreational psychoactive substances found in
15                  the person’s possession or under the person’s control, together with
16                  its containers, forfeited to the Minister.
17                  Penalty: 500 penalty units.

18   17 Licence and permits to be displayed
19              (1) A licensee or employee or agent of the licensee must display the
20                  licence at a location clearly visible to the customer where a sale is
21                  made.
22                  Penalty: 10 penalty units.
23              (2) A person must not indicate that they are a licensee or employee or
24                  agent of a licensee if they are not so.
25                  Penalty: 50 penalty units.




      No.   ,            Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.           7
      20189
     Part 3 Penalties



     Section 18

 1   18 Licence conditions
 2            (1) The holder of a vendor licence shall not willingly, without
 3                reasonable excuse, contravene a condition specified in the licence.
 4                Penalty: 100 penalty units.
 5            (2) The holder of a manufacturer’s licence shall not willingly, without
 6                reasonable excuse, contravene a condition specified in the licence.
 7                Penalty: 250 penalty units.

 8   19 Consumption of certain recreational psychoactive compounds in
 9            public places
10            (1) A person shall not consume the following recreational
11                psychoactive substances in a public place:
12                 (a) LSD;
13                 (b) DMT;
14                 (c) Psilocybin;
15                 (d) Mescaline; or
16                 (e) Salvia.
17                Penalty: 10 penalty units.
18            (2) A person shall not possess an open container of the recreational
19                psychoactive substances listed in subsection (1) with the intention
20                of consuming them in that place.
21                Penalty: 5 penalty units.

22   20 Consumption of recreational psychoactive compounds while
23            doing certain activities
24            (1) A person shall not consume, or possess an open container with the
25                intent of consuming, any recreational psychoactive substances
26                when:
27                  (a) driving a vehicle;
28                  (b) operating heavy machinery; or



      8         Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019   No.   ,
                                                                                  20189
                                                                                      Penalties Part 3



                                                                                          Section 21

 1                   (c) in any other instances where inebriation could endanger the
 2                       life of others;
 3                  Penalty: 20 penalty units

 4   21 Seizure of recreational psychoactive substances from minors
 5                  If a member of the Police Force reasonably believes that a minor is
 6                  in possession of recreational psychoactive compounds in
 7                  contravention of this act, the member may seize and take away, or
 8                  cause the seizing and taking away of the recreational psychoactive
 9                  substance, together with any vessel containing the recreational
10                  psychoactive substance.

11   22 Recreational psychoactive substances must be clearly labelled
12              (1) Recreational psychoactive substances must be clearly labelled
13                  detailing their composition.
14                  Penalty: 20 penalty units
15                  Note:        If the recreational psychoactive substances are found to differ in
16                               composition to their label, they are to be considered adulterated and
17                               subject to also the penalties listed in subsection 16(1).




      No.   ,               Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.              9
      20189
     Part 3 Penalties



     Section 301.1A

 1   Schedule 1—Amendments to the Criminal
 2         Code Act 1995
 3   Criminal Code Act 1995
 4   1 Section 300.2
 5           Insert:
 6                recreational psychoactive substance means the same as in the
 7                Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation Act 2019..

 8   2 Section 301.1A
 9           Omit the section, substitute:

10   301.1A Application of this Act to recreational psychoactive
11            substances
12                Despite any other provision of this Act, a regulation must not list
13                recreational psychoactive substances as, and the Minister must not
14                determine recreational psychoactive substances are, any of the
15                following:
16                  (a) a controlled drug;
17                  (b) a controlled plant;
18                  (c) a border-controlled drug;
19                  (d) a border-controlled plant;
20                  (e) a serious drug;
21                  (f) a controlled precursor; or
22                  (g) a border-controlled precursor.

23   3 Section 308.1(1)
24           Omit “2 years or 400 penalty units, or both”, substitute “10 penalty
25           units”.




      10        Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019      No.   ,
                                                                                     20189
                                                                                Penalties Part 3



                                                                              Section 301.1A

 1   Schedule 2—Amendments to the Criminal
 2         Code Regulations 2002
 3   Criminal Code Regulations 2002
 4   1 Subregulation 5C(1)
 5             Repeal table items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 13.

 6   1 Subregulation 5E(1)
 7             Repeal table items 3 and 7.

 8   1 Subregulation 5F(1)
 9             Repeal table items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 14.

10   1 Schedule 3
11             Repeal table items 3, 4, 48, 77, 98, 146, 151, 152, 154, 171, 173, 235
12             and 236.

13   1 Schedule 4
14             Repeal table items 14, 33, 51, 73, 106, 111, 112, 114, 121, 122, 126,
15             128, 192 and 193.




     No.   ,             Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019.       11
     20189
     Part 3 Penalties



     Section 301.1A

 1   Schedule 3— Amendments to the Crimes
 2         (Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
 3         Psychotropic Substances) Act 1990
 4   Crimes (Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
 5            Substances) Act 1990
 6   1 Subsection 9(1)
 7           (1) Omit “any substance listed in Table I or II in the Annex to the
 8               Convention”; and
 9           (2) Omit “substance” (second occurring).

10   2 Subsection 15(2) (tables)
11           In the tables (wherever occurring):
12                  (a) omit “life”, substitute “10 years”
13                  (b) omit “25 years”, substitute “5 years”
14                  (c) omit “10 years”, substitute “2 years”
15                  (d) omit “5 years”, substitute “1 years”

16   2 Amendments of listed provisions—Part 1 of Schedule 3
17           In the table, repeal the following items:
18                  (a) DMT
19                  (b) Lysergide (LSD, LSD-25)
20                  (c) MDA
21                  (d) MDMA
22                  (e) Mescaline
23                  (f) MMDA
24                  (g) Psilocine
25                  (h) Psilocybine




      12        Psychoactive Drug Decriminalisation (Drugs are Cool!) Act 2019     No.   ,
                                                                                    20189