Legalise Cannabis Party Overview

Study Notes

The Legalise Cannabis Party was established in 1993 by Nigel Quinlan.
The party advocates for ending cannabis restrictions and prohibitions.
The party is registered in New South Wales and is based in Nimbin.
The party was officially registered in 2010.
Currently, the party has no representatives in the Australian House of Representatives.
However, the party holds a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council, two seats in the Victoria Legislative Council, one seat in the Western Australia Legislative Council, and one seat in the Rockingham City Council.
The party is actively involved in promoting their message through social media pages and rallies.
The Legalise Cannabis Party aims to legalize cannabis for personal use, including growing in one's backyard or indoors.
The party proposes a licensing system across production, sales, and purchase of cannabis.
The Legalise Cannabis Party also advocates for the removal of criminal records related to cannabis use and the release of individuals currently incarcerated solely due to cannabis possession.

Fiona Patten is the lead senate candidate for the Legalize Cannabis Party in the upcoming Australian Federal election.
Patten's career includes founding the company Body Politics and advocating for sex workers' rights.
She was involved in the Workers in Sex Employment organization, informing members about HIV and AIDS in Australia.
Patten established the Australia Sex Party in 2009, which focused on personal freedoms, including drug law reform, censorship, marriage equality, and other liberties.
The party later changed its name to the Reason Party.
Patten ran for a seat in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in her first election, as part of the Hare Clark Independent Group.
She competed against incumbent member Craig Duby, but was not elected.
After leading the Reason Party, Patten joined the Legalise Cannabis Party in 2024.