Politicians from all sides jumped in to rightfully defend Tame over the photograph, so the place are their insurance policies on legalisation?
1000’s of individuals — together with some politicians — have proven their help for Grace Tame after she made headlines on Monday when an outdated photograph of her with a bong surfaced on social media.
For what it’s price, the photograph was taken in 2014, when Tame was simply 19 years outdated and is one thing she had deleted from her Instagram when the story got here to gentle (though she has since re-shared it on Twitter).
Alright, I confess, we have been doing a canopy of ‘April Solar in Cuba’. On the oboe. pic.twitter.com/MKKsm7EF3y
— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) February 15, 2022
Clearly, it’s a non-issue, and other people from either side of politics shortly jumped in to sentence this apparent and lazy try at a smear marketing campaign.
However whereas help is all properly and good, it’s greater than a little bit bizarre to see politicians leaping on the pattern to confess that weed actually isn’t that dangerous after they’re the identical people who find themselves voting towards progressive hashish insurance policies in Parliament.
Politicians Again Grace Tame (And Her Bong)
Liberal MP Dave Sharma was fast to level out that he’s “certain there’s a photograph of [himself] like that.” Nonetheless, Sharma has constantly voted in favour of drug testing welfare recipients and his celebration has a staunch place towards leisure legalisation.
Junkee has reached out to Dave Sharma to make clear if he has modified his place.
I’m certain there’s a photograph of me like that.
I don’t assume these items is remotely within the public curiosity.
— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) February 14, 2022
Labor’s Stephen Jones additionally chimed in to the dialog, in reply to former PM Malcolm Turnbull’s son. Jones has repeatedly voted towards drug testing welfare recipients, nevertheless, Labor is towards leisure use.
— Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) February 14, 2022
Jones doubled down on his feedback after Tame re-uploaded the photograph herself.
This gave me a properly mannered smile https://t.co/Vw1SHm5h2y
— Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) February 15, 2022
The Greens’ Adam Bandt — who additionally votes constantly towards drug testing welfare recipients — didn’t beat across the bush, asserting that “marijuana must be authorized.”
1. Marijuana must be authorized.
2. Ladies who converse out towards the institution shouldn’t get a goal on their again.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) February 14, 2022
It’s unsurprising that The Australian Greens — who’ve a transparent pro-legalisation coverage — have additionally made two separate Instagram posts in regards to the story.
Port Phillip Deputy Mayor Tim Baxter additionally admitted he loved his justifiable share of bongs in his youth.
Oh no! Grace Tame as soon as smoked a bong?!?!?
I am the Deputy Mayor and I smoked bongs as an adolescent. And I’ve nonetheless by no means been as cool as Grace Tame.
— Cr Tim Baxter 🏳️⚧️ (@BaxterTim) February 14, 2022
Darcy Byrne, the Labor Mayor of Sydney’s Inside West Council, additionally supported Tame.
Placing out pictures of the a lot revered former Australian of the Yr partying as a youth is past pathetic.
Grace Tame’s manners are positive, it’s the politicians scraping the underside of the barrel that have to study respect.
— Darcy Byrne (@MayorDarcy) February 14, 2022
What Do The Events Assume Of Weed?
Hashish is simply authorized in Australia for medicinal functions (apart from the ACT), however even then, it’s wildly costly and has some main accessibility points for most individuals. And with an election developing, it’s about time we take a look at how the foremost events really feel about weed.
Liberal:
The Liberal Get together helps the usage of hashish, however just for medical use, and as we close to the tip of Scott Morrison’s first full time period in workplace, little or no has been achieved to make medicinal hashish extra reasonably priced or accessible — as it’s notably absent from the PBS.
There is no such thing as a point out of marijuana/hashish/weed within the Liberal Get together’s platform, or on its website.
Labor:
The Australian Labor Get together mirrors the Liberal Get together with regards to hashish, in that it helps medicinal use however not leisure legalisation. In relation to accessibility, there is no such thing as a phrase from Labor on whether or not it will think about subsidising medicinal hashish beneath the PBS.
Any point out of marijuana/hashish/weed is lacking from Labor’s platform.
Greens:
The Greens, alternatively, have an in depth public stance on hashish — for each medicinal and leisure functions. The official policy goals to legalise, regulate and tax leisure hashish nationwide.
Beneath the Greens’ strategy, you would want a license to supply or promote hashish, with penalties imposed for promoting unlicensed. Nonetheless, you can develop as much as six vegetation at residence for private use. Hashish can be taxed (particular percentages are unknown however possible just like alcohol/tobacco) and promoting can be banned.
Whereas that is all properly and good, it’s necessary to notice that The Greens have nearly no hope of passing this laws with out the help of one of many main events.
Is There Any Hope For Legalisation Quickly?
Whereas it looks as if each particular person in politics gave their sizzling tackle weed following the viral Grace Tame image, the subject of legalising leisure hashish isn’t even actually up for dialogue in the intervening time.
We might even see some enchancment at a state degree — as has occurred within the ACT beforehand — however federally talking, the dialog isn’t taking place proper now. And with the 2 main events being towards something greater than medicinal hashish, it appears unlikely that may change any time quickly.
