Minnesota’s Gov Tim Walz On Trade Visit To Australia Wonders Why NSW & Australia So Slow On Cannabis Reform

Walz – who made Minnesota the 23rd state to legalise and regulate cannabis while also expunging criminal records of people convicted for possession of marijuana – expressed shock that Australian states had not done the same.

“I was surprised that Australia hasn’t done this and for me, first of all, prohibition doesn’t work,” he said.

In NSW, the government has refused to move on significant cannabis reforms until after it holds a drug summit, likely next year. Despite Minns previously expressing support for a legal and regulated cannabis market, he has refused to move on the issue until then.

Walz cited a regulated market as a means of both helping his state’s economy, and addressing the over-representation of people of colour in the justice system.

“Minnesota has a long history of prohibition with alcohol and other things. It doesn’t work,” he said.