They have already changed and are continuing to change.

ACT - If you’re aged 18 and over in the ACT, you can now: possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis or up to 150 grams of fresh cannabis grow up to two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four plants per household use cannabis in your home (personal use). It’s now an offence to: smoke or use cannabis in a public place expose a child or young person to cannabis smoke store cannabis where children can reach it grow cannabis using hydroponics or artificial cultivation grow plants where they can be accessed by the public.

NSW -Cannabis for any other use is prohibited under the NSW Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985. Cannabis medicines may only be used in animals in the context of scientific research or analysis; an application for a NSW Authority from the NSW Health for this purpose may be made. A bill has been put forward to parliment  

QLD -Queensland to relax drug laws, implement three-strike rule for people carrying small amounts of drugs for personal use

VIC -Recreational marijuana possession and use is a criminal offence in Victoria, but similar to NSW, those caught with a first offence of 50 grams or less are typically given a caution and directions to attend drug counselling. It’s more serious if there are additional charges or if a person is found with over 50 grams; 250 grams, or 10 plants, is considered a trafficable quantity of cannabis. Medicinal cannabis can be prescribed by any doctor for a patient with any condition if they believe it is clinically appropriate, and if they have obtained approval from the Commonwealth or state. Victoria was the first state to legalise medical marijuana use, and young children suffering from epilepsy were the first to gain access.  

SA -Cannabis, cannabis oil and cannabis resin are all illegal to keep, use, grow, sell or give away in South Australia. Possession for personal use can be penalised with an expiation, which means a fine that does not attract a criminal conviction. Large-scale trafficking or selling can attract big penalties of up to AU$1 million, 15 years to life imprisonment or both. Those looking for medical cannabis products can obtain them via prescription from an authorised medical practitioner in the region. Approval under South Australian Controlled Substances legislation is also often required, although there are exemptions for elderly and terminal patients. 

WA -Even though Western Australia (WA) officially decriminalised cannabis in 2004, Liberal Premier Colin Barnett repealed the decision in 2011 as part of a “tough on crime” approach. Possession of 10 grams or less can result in a cannabis intervention requirement (CIR), which means the person in question is required to attend a cannabis intervention session. If they are 18 or older, they may receive only one CIR; younger people can receive two. More than 10 grams results in a fine of up to AU$2,000, two years in jail, or both. Penalties are larger for possession of over 100 grams. Driving with THC in your system is an offence in WA, regardless of whether it is medicinal or recreational. Personal cultivation is illegal, but medicinal cannabis is available via prescription from any doctor in WA providing they have the required government approval. Prescriptions can be dispensed at any pharmacy. 

TAS -Prior to July 1, 2021, obtaining medicinal cannabis was fairly complicated in Tasmania — patients had to be referred to a specialist by their general practitioner, and then the specialist would make a decision. Generally cannabis would only be provided by specialists in limited circumstances once conventional treatment had been unsuccessful. Now general practitioners can fill out prescriptions if they believe it is clinically appropriate and if they have both Commonwealth and state approval to do so. Possession of cannabis is illegal in Tasmania — in fact, any utensil or appliance for preparation, smoking or inhalation of cannabis is illegal and can attract a maximum fine of AU$7,950. Trafficking an amount of 25 grams of oil or 1 kilogram of plant material carries a serious imprisonment term of up to 21 years. 

NT - Cannabis is largely decriminalised in the Northern Territory (NT), but possession of a small quantity in a public place still carries an imprisonment penalty. Possession of less than 50 grams in your own home is penalised with a fine only. The penalty for cultivating, even small amounts of less than five plants, is 200 penalty units or two years imprisonment. A commercial quantity of more than 20 plants results in life imprisonment, as does “cultivation in front of a child.” The first NT medicinal cannabis patient to fill a script did so in November 2019, but uptake has been slow since then and the NT has a low number of users. That’s largely because there are few doctors who are authorised prescribers in the NT, and as the area is remote, travel to those clinics is not feasible for all residents. 

They have already changed and are continuing to change.

ACT - If you’re aged 18 and over in the ACT, you can now: possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis or up to 150 grams of fresh cannabis grow up to two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four plants per household use cannabis in your home (personal use). It’s now an offence to: smoke or use cannabis in a public place expose a child or young person to cannabis smoke store cannabis where children can reach it grow cannabis using hydroponics or artificial cultivation grow plants where they can be accessed by the public.

NSW -Cannabis for any other use is prohibited under the NSW Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985. Cannabis medicines may only be used in animals in the context of scientific research or analysis; an application for a NSW Authority from the NSW Health for this purpose may be made. A bill has been put forward to parliment  

QLD -Queensland to relax drug laws, implement three-strike rule for people carrying small amounts of drugs for personal use

VIC -Recreational marijuana possession and use is a criminal offence in Victoria, but similar to NSW, those caught with a first offence of 50 grams or less are typically given a caution and directions to attend drug counselling. It’s more serious if there are additional charges or if a person is found with over 50 grams; 250 grams, or 10 plants, is considered a trafficable quantity of cannabis. Medicinal cannabis can be prescribed by any doctor for a patient with any condition if they believe it is clinically appropriate, and if they have obtained approval from the Commonwealth or state. Victoria was the first state to legalise medical marijuana use, and young children suffering from epilepsy were the first to gain access.  

SA -Cannabis, cannabis oil and cannabis resin are all illegal to keep, use, grow, sell or give away in South Australia. Possession for personal use can be penalised with an expiation, which means a fine that does not attract a criminal conviction. Large-scale trafficking or selling can attract big penalties of up to AU$1 million, 15 years to life imprisonment or both. Those looking for medical cannabis products can obtain them via prescription from an authorised medical practitioner in the region. Approval under South Australian Controlled Substances legislation is also often required, although there are exemptions for elderly and terminal patients. 

WA -Even though Western Australia (WA) officially decriminalised cannabis in 2004, Liberal Premier Colin Barnett repealed the decision in 2011 as part of a “tough on crime” approach. Possession of 10 grams or less can result in a cannabis intervention requirement (CIR), which means the person in question is required to attend a cannabis intervention session. If they are 18 or older, they may receive only one CIR; younger people can receive two. More than 10 grams results in a fine of up to AU$2,000, two years in jail, or both. Penalties are larger for possession of over 100 grams. Driving with THC in your system is an offence in WA, regardless of whether it is medicinal or recreational. Personal cultivation is illegal, but medicinal cannabis is available via prescription from any doctor in WA providing they have the required government approval. Prescriptions can be dispensed at any pharmacy. 

TAS -Prior to July 1, 2021, obtaining medicinal cannabis was fairly complicated in Tasmania — patients had to be referred to a specialist by their general practitioner, and then the specialist would make a decision. Generally cannabis would only be provided by specialists in limited circumstances once conventional treatment had been unsuccessful. Now general practitioners can fill out prescriptions if they believe it is clinically appropriate and if they have both Commonwealth and state approval to do so. Possession of cannabis is illegal in Tasmania — in fact, any utensil or appliance for preparation, smoking or inhalation of cannabis is illegal and can attract a maximum fine of AU$7,950. Trafficking an amount of 25 grams of oil or 1 kilogram of plant material carries a serious imprisonment term of up to 21 years. 

NT - Cannabis is largely decriminalised in the Northern Territory (NT), but possession of a small quantity in a public place still carries an imprisonment penalty. Possession of less than 50 grams in your own home is penalised with a fine only. The penalty for cultivating, even small amounts of less than five plants, is 200 penalty units or two years imprisonment. A commercial quantity of more than 20 plants results in life imprisonment, as does “cultivation in front of a child.” The first NT medicinal cannabis patient to fill a script did so in November 2019, but uptake has been slow since then and the NT has a low number of users. That’s largely because there are few doctors who are authorised prescribers in the NT, and as the area is remote, travel to those clinics is not feasible for all residents.