CANNABIS
The Penington Cannabis Control Plan
The Penington Cannabis Control Plan (PCCP) is a practical and evidence-informed 21-point plan for the safe legalisation and regulation of cannabis for Australian states and territories.
Carefully developed in consultation with health, legal, law enforcement and policy experts from within Australia and overseas, and aligned with strong community support for cannabis legalisation and safe regulation, the PCCP offers a sensible pathway for common-sense cannabis law reform that minimises harm and better protects the community.
In Australia, we pride ourselves on pragmatic solutions – approaches that balance personal responsibility with community safety. Yet when it comes to cannabis, our laws remain outdated, ineffective and, frankly, harmful.
Most Australians know that criminal syndicates profit massively from the unregulated illicit drug market, but few appreciate the scale of cannabis’s share – over $5 billion per year – or are aware that these funds facilitate violent crime, corruption and the flow of dirty money through the economy. And while Australians know that illegal cannabis is easily available, it is less widely understood that it has actually become cheaper and stronger.
The choice is clear: maintain the status quo – an unregulated, crime-driven black market – or take the reins and plan a responsible, controlled framework that protects Australians while unlocking economic opportunities.
We are pleased to provide such a common-sense plan.
The Penington Cannabis Control Plan represents the culmination of years of research, backed by innumerable expert interviews and extensive community consultation. Penington Institute is grateful to the many experts and community members from Australia and around the world who kindly shared their knowledge and insights with us during its development.
On behalf of Penington Institute, I would also like to acknowledge the late but still inspirational Professor David Penington AC, whose bequest enabled this work to happen.
I would also like to thank all of my colleagues at Penington Institute for their diverse contributions, especially Dr Jake Dizard, Rhys Cohen and Anna Northey.
This isn’t about promoting cannabis use – it’s about taking back control. Regulation means strict oversight, clear controls on access and use and penalties for trafficking. It means resources for police to focus on serious crime. It means better health knowledge, safer communities and a smarter use of taxpayer dollars. It is common sense.
