Change rarely happens overnight. But it does happen when we believe in it enough to start.
Lucy Haslam changed Australian law because she refused to accept the status quo. She believed in a better system for patients, she pushed the conversation forward, and she helped legalise medicinal cannabis in Australia.
The next steps—expanding access, building trust within the medical community, and strengthening the role of plant medicine in mainstream healthcare—require the same hope and persistence that Lucy Haslam showed.
At Astrid, we hold onto that same belief in change. As its founder, I believe in legalisation of adult-use cannabis. I believe it will happen in the coming years. And I believe it can and should co-exist with a medicinal market.
Of course, the path ahead won’t be easy. There’s no denying that cannabis reform faces major political hurdles. The two-party system does not currently prioritise cannabis legalisation, and the path ahead will be slow and complex. But if we only look at today’s political landscape, we miss the bigger picture: it’s not just about this election. It’s about the next decade.
Change doesn’t start with Parliament. It starts with people, then policy, then progress. Without hope, conversations, and action at every level, nothing moves. This is why advocacy matters, and why Astrid will always be part of those conversations.
While full adult-use legalisation may not happen this year, the momentum is undeniable—and the signs of progress are everywhere.
In 2024, Astrid was honoured to present evidence to the Senate during the Greens’ cannabis legalisation bill discussions — a powerful reminder that our voice, and our patients’ voices, are being heard at the highest levels of government.
Beyond the Senate floor, the broader movement is only growing stronger. The Legalise Cannabis Party is larger, more organised, and more visible than ever, running candidates across the country and pushing real healthcare reform onto the political agenda.
Across the industry, there is also widespread support for leaders like Fiona Patten, who are championing improvements to medicinal cannabis access and calling for federal Senate enquiries into smarter, evidence-based regulation.
This election may not deliver everything at once. But it can send a clear message: cannabis reform is no longer a fringe issue. It’s growing. It’s gaining momentum. And it’s only getting louder.
At Astrid, we are proud to be part of this progress—but our focus remains where it always has been: on our community. Astrid is not a political organisation. We are patient-led and community-driven. We work closely with policymakers, advocacy groups, and health professionals to make sure our community’s needs are represented at every level.
Our community wants better access.
Our community supports smarter regulation.
Our community deserves to be heard.
And when our community’s needs align with political movements like the Legalise Cannabis Party, we stand alongside them in advocacy.
If we keep showing up, advocating, and believing in better, Australia’s cannabis future could look very different by 2030. Here’s what I envision for a Dual Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Market, with some key data from Penington Institute’s Cannabis in Australia 2024 Report:
1. Respecting Medical Integrity and Patient Needs: Medical cannabis users often have specific needs — clinical care, standardised dosages, pharmacist support. A separate, well-regulated medicinal cannabis program ensures that patients can access the right products under clinical guidance, without being lumped into the broader recreational system. In the first half of 2024 alone, Australians purchased 2.87 million units of medicinal cannabis—almost double the previous half-year figure—demonstrating just how critical and fast-growing this system is.
2. Expanding Access and Reducing Stigma: Adult-use legalisation removes the gatekeeping of access and helps destigmatise cannabis use. Many people who use cannabis for wellness — managing sleep, anxiety, or minor pain — may not want to go through the formal medical system. Adult-use legalisation empowers personal choice while encouraging responsible use. An estimated 700,000 Australians used cannabis for medical reasons in the past year, but only around 200,000 accessed it via prescription—showing a gap in access that adult-use reform could help address.
3. Preventing Industry Monopolisation and Promoting Innovation: Opening an adult-use market can drive competition and improve affordability for all users. Medicinal-only markets can consolidate power; in 2023, 76% of medicinal cannabis sold was dried flower, while nearly 81% of imports came from Canada—highlighting the need for local innovation and broader access options.
4. Boosting Economic Growth and Tax Revenue: Regulated cannabis markets overseas generate billions in revenue. Australia’s $5 billion illicit market—currently controlled by criminal networks—could be redirected into health, education, addiction services, and community development. Economists estimate that legalising cannabis could convert this massive black market into a regulated, taxable industry.
5. Enhancing Public Health and Safety: Regulation means oversight, testing, and consumer education. Australia spends an estimated $2.1 billion per year on cannabis law enforcement, with 90% of arrests targeting users—not suppliers. A regulated market can shift this focus toward harm reduction and safety.
6. Reflecting the Reality of Cannabis Use: Nearly half of all Australians have used cannabis. Legal frameworks should reflect lived realities—not criminalise them. 42.3% of adults report lifetime cannabis use, and 2.4 million used it in the past year. Legalisation isn’t radical—it’s a realistic response to how people already live.
This future won’t build itself. It will take patience. Persistence. And powerful conversations that don’t stop after election day. True change isn’t only won at the ballot box, but the ballot box can be the beginning.
Even if full legalisation isn’t imminent, keeping cannabis on the agenda is essential. Every conversation matters. Every piece of advocacy matters. And together, I have high hopes that we can help shape a better future for cannabis care in Australia by advocating now, and beyond this election season.
Read Nour’s opinion piece here.
