The study aimed to explore the experiences of people who use and grow cannabis in the ACT since the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Cannabis Use) Amendment Bill 2018 came into effect on 31 January 2020. This included understanding how practices of cannabis use and growing cannabis may have changed since the introduction of the new legislation; and views about models such as cannabis social clubs.

During 2021 and 2022 we undertook semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation research with people in the ACT who grow and use cannabis. Publications from this research are below.

This study formed one part of a larger project concerned with the role of participation in designing illicit drug policy solutions.

Research Centre

Social Policy Research Centre

Research Area

Drug Policy Modelling Program

Barrett L, Mellor R, Ritter A, McLauchlan L, Kearnes M. Navigating the grey: Experiences of incremental cannabis reform in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2022 Nov;41(7):1621-1629. doi: 10.1111/dar.13518.

As many states weigh legalising cannabis, here’s what they can learn from the struggles of growers in Canberra, The Conversation, 5 September 2023.

Australian Research Council, Discovery Project
  • ACT Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Association (ATODA)
  • Dr Laura McLauchlan (Postdoctoral Fellow, Macquarie School of Social Sciences)

Related people