NSW government misses key opportunity on cannabis reform
Penington Institute – Australia’s leading independent drug policy research non-profit – believes the NSW Government has missed an important opportunity to show national leadership on evidence-based cannabis reform. In its newly published response to the Impact of the regulatory framework for cannabis in New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry’s final report, the Government has rejected every […]
Justice & Reform: 2025 David Penington Oration Champions Cannabis Policy Change
https://youtu.be/nv7ADDvgA_o On Thursday, 28 August, Penington Institute held the 2025 David Penington Oration in honour of our namesake, Professor David Penington AC. The David Penington Oration is an important forum for informed discussion about drug issues that impact every part of our community. We were honoured to continue the legacy of Professor Penington through this […]
More middle-age and older Australians dying from drug overdoses, new figures from the Penington Institute reveal
Australia’s overdose crisis continues to claim lives at an alarming rate, with 2,272 people dying from overdoses in the latest year of comprehensive national data. Download report That’s the equivalent of more than six deaths every single day. The latest figures mark the tenth consecutive year that overdose deaths have exceeded 2,000, and the 16th […]
Legal cannabis within reach: new plan urges government action
Penington Institute releases the Penington Cannabis Control Plan outlining a common-sense plan for cannabis law reform for Australian states and territories. Download research Australian governments have been presented with comprehensive blueprint for how to legalise and, most importantly, regulate cannabis for adult personal use, in a bid to reduce harm, combat crime and stop government […]
Herald Sun: Drug of choice – Sneak peek inside Fitzroy’s mock cannabis shop
Exclusive | The Herald Sun spoke to Penington Institute CEO John Ryan at a mock licensed cannabis outlet set up on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy this week. Read the article here >> The mock shop has been set up for the launch of the Penington Cannabis Control Plan – a clear plan for the legalisation […]
Cannabis regulation revealed as a $10 billion economic opportunity for Victoria — if we embrace it
Victoria risks missing a golden opportunity to generate billions in additional revenue, create tens of thousands of jobs, and reinvigorate rural and regional economies, if it doesn’t act to legalise and regulate cannabis. Download report New economic modelling by Sapere Research Group, commissioned by Penington Institute, reveals a regulated adult-use cannabis market would inject $10 […]
Young Victorian men back cannabis reform – see it as central in voting decision
New research: Young men are shaping up as the biggest supporters of cannabis reform in Victoria. Download research 64% of men aged 18 to 24 are backing calls for the Victorian Government to allow adults to buy cannabis for personal use under tight conditions. 58% of men aged 25-34 also backed the change, as did […]
The Briefing: plane load of Aussies die from silent killer each month
Penington Institute CEO John Ryan speaks to The Briefing podcast about the growing toll of preventable overdose deaths. New analysis from Penington Institute reveals a confronting reality: drug overdoses now claim twice as many lives as Australia’s road toll, yet despite the scale of this tragedy, CEO John Ryan says the crisis remains hidden and under-addressed. […]
ABC: ‘Boeing 737’ full of Aussies dying of drug overdoses every month, researchers say
Penington Institute CEO John Ryan speaks to ABC News about the growing toll of preventable overdose deaths. Read the story in ABC News New figures released by the Penington Institute reveal a sobering statistic: 2,272 Australians died from drug overdoses in 2023, the equivalent of losing a Boeing 737 full of people every month. Despite […]
Overdose killing ‘plane full’ of Australians every month: new figures
View full report Drug overdoses are killing the equivalent of a Boeing 737 full of Australians every month, according to new analysis by drug policy research non-profit Penington Institute. The snapshot report found that 2272 Australians died from an overdose in 2023, the equivalent of 189 people each month. Over three-quarters of the deaths (77.8%) […]