Cannabis possession now legal in Australias ACT

Cannabis

Today marks the start of controversial new laws passed in Australia's capital in September.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government maintains it's not encouraging the use of cannabis, calling the laws an "evolutionary change".

But Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt remains unimpressed.

"We don't support it but it's a matter for the ACT," he told reporters in Canberra today.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy backs the federal government's position.

"I think cannabis has a medicinal role and the evidence suggests that we need much more data," he said.

He said there needed to be more evidence about the drug's health impacts, with studies underway about medicinal access schemes.

Earlier in the week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the commonwealth wouldn't intervene to overturn the laws.

"I've always been a federalist and states will make their own decisions according to their own priorities," the prime minister said.

But it's still unclear if police will charge people for possession under federal law rather than ACT law.

"I would expect federal law enforcement agencies to enforce the law," Mr. Morrison said.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said people who used cannabis would be more likely to seek drug help under the new laws.

"This isn't about legalizing and getting a system of sale going on ... all we are doing is providing a legal excuse for adults," he said.

"They are small changes. They are important changes."

But Mr. Ramsay said it would be a "strange use" of police resources to pursue federal charges.

Canberrans over 18 will be able to use marijuana in their own homes, possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis and grow two plants.

A maximum of four plants can be grown per household but hydroponic setups are still illegal.

Drug-driving laws will still be in effect and users cannot expose children to the drug. People are also not able to legally buy seeds to grow plants.

Source: TVNZ