Pixabay/CMElixirs

Living in Australia is not easy. Every time you step outside your door, you know there is a chance some wild animal might eat you alive. Worse than that, you could always get bitten by a spider or snake that is so deadly you would be dead before you even knew what happened. Add to this the fact they still have to work hard to just make ends meet and deal with the regular first world drama, and you can really see why people in Australian might not be too happy. Ultimately, many locals believe there is a way to help mitigate some of the stress of everyday life. Their solution? Australia needs some weed.

Current Cannabis Laws in Australia

Pixabay/Johny_deff

As with the United States, citizens of Australia are not actually strangers to weed, but that doesn’t mean it is legal. In fact, a 2010 study estimates that at least  750,000 people use it weekly and 300,000 of them use it daily. Despite the illegal use of this drug, it retains the designation of an illicit substance. Fortunately, the legislators in Australia seem to be more intelligent than those in the United States, as rather than force harsh penalties on minor offences, they instead operate from a sort of cautioning scheme. If you are found in possession of small quantities, you just get a simple warning rather than face criminal charges. On the other hand, those caught with “commercial quantities” (100kg or more of canabis) can face serious penalties, including life in prison.

Since 2012, there has been serious talk in Australian about legalizing cannabis, at least for medical research and use. Despite overwhelming support, things were slow-moving, but in a recent report by Reuters, it seems like that is about to change. The bill was introduced into Parliament back in February and it looks to create a national licensing system that will allow for medical marijuana to be used. Still, it seems just a small step in the right direction.

Dealing with Australia’s Wildlife

Of course, while it is certainly important for this medical usage to take off, most locals would likely prefer a more profound legal change. After all, there are already more than a quarter-million people using it daily, despite the fact that it is strictly not legal to do so. The biggest reason is probably the wildlife. After all, they have to deal with animals like this:

Imgur

And this:

Imgur/mouldybanana

Oh, and this too:

Imgur/mouldybanana

Frankly, it is a wonder anyone survives. Perhaps it’s not actually the people who need the weed, but all of these crazy animals.

Australia Needs Some Weed

Pixabay/Fak1911

While they may be realizing the national legalization of medical marijuana in the next year or so, it is clear Australia could use swifter progress. Well the rest of the first world countries can safely go about their business, these poor people are stuck worrying about all kinds of nightmare creatures. At the very least, they could learn from the example of places like Colorado and Oregon and start to realize that large-scale legalization is not such a bad thing after all.

Do you agree that Australia needs some weed to get over the many terrors they face? When do you think their government will finally get past the stigma and just legalize it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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