A study of residents in the Australian Capital Territory who are legally cultivating cannabis has identified “major wrinkles” in the legislation with nearly three out of four growers struggling to keep within the maximum legal amount they are permitted to produce. The CAN-ACT research, launched in September last year, revealed that most growers are exceeding the legal limits of fresh and dry plant material even though they are cultivating a legal number of plants. The preliminary data revealed what researches at the Lambert Initiative described as “surprising anxiety” amongst ACT residents who are legally using and cultivating cannabis, but nervous they are breaking the law. Full results of the study will be presented at the United in Compassion Symposium in Brisbane next weekend. The Lambert Initiative launched CAN-ACT to examine the outcomes of decriminalisation, and unearth behaviours and challenges that could help shape future legislation in Australia. ACT residents were also invited to anonymously submit home-grown cannabis for testing. Of 420 cannabis users who responded, 81% of whom were cultivators, 60 provided samples. Early analysis of the data revealed that just over half (53%) were dissatisfied with the current legislation, with several issues flagged. Firstly, the ACT legislation does not permit the supply of seeds or cuttings to cultivate, with 66% indicating they have broken the law to bootstrap their cannabis growing. Additionally, the legal limits of 150 grams of fresh plant and 50 grams of dry plant was “easily exceeded by otherwise honest cultivators” within their legal number of two plants, or four per household, Lambert found. More than seven out of 10 growers indicated this was an issue. Artificial cultivation was another problem area, albeit for a small number of growers. While hydroponics is prohibited in the ACT legislation, 12% of survey respondents grew their cannabis in such a way.
Source: Cannabiz