Aussie Cannabis Laws: South Australia

 

Adelaide Magistrates Court

Aussie cannabis laws are a mixed bag. While the days of the heavy-handed ‘War on Drugs’ are (mostly) behind us, we are all still faced with navigating a society that stigmatises and punishes weed users in many ways. This is without mentioning that we live in a federation. Each state has its own set of laws, requiring their own unique strategies.

This series will address the key legislation and policies you’ll need to be aware of as a resident stoner in Australia. We’ll be focusing on recreational use and growing for personal use— if you’re a dealer and you get busted, that’s on you.

- Advertisement -

Last time, we covered the essential bud-law you need to know for getting stoned in WA.

This week: South Australia.

Adelaide City
There’s bud in them hills

Minor Possession and Expiation

There’s a common misconception when it comes to cannabis law in SA, so let me clarify: weed is still very much illegal. To possess, smoke, or distribute it constitutes an offence under the Controlled Substances Act 1984. That said, the expiation system in place there makes it far less of a risk to possess small amounts than in other states.

Under the Expiation of Offences Act 1996, simple cannabis offences can be expiated by a police officer. An expiation is a small fine, given in lieu of prosecution, to be paid within 28 days. They can be given for possession for the following:

  • Cultivating one cannabis plant without artificial enhancement (non-hydro, no artificial lighting, no commercial fertilizers)
  • Possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis
  • Possession of up to 20 grams of cannabis resin
  • Smoking cannabis (except in a public place)
  • Possession of smoking implements
bongs
Pictured: smoking implements

Expiation notices are subject to the following conditions:

  • The recipient must be aged 18 or over
  • They may relate to up to three offences arising from the same incident
  • They won’t be given for charges of possession/cultivation for commercial purpose or supply, even if the total amount is less than the ‘simple cannabis offence’ threshold
  • If given an expiation notice you may choose to opt for prosecution instead (Dunno why you would ever do this, but maybe $300 is worth more to you than a criminal record)

Expiation fines are currently as follows based on the Controlled Substances (Controlled Drugs, Precursors and Plants) Regulations 2014.

Fine amounts:

Possession:

  • Less than 25 grams of cannabis: $150
  • Between 25 and 100 grams of cannabis: $300
  • Less than 5 grams of resin: $150
  • Between 5 and 20 grams of resin: $300
  • Equipment for preparing or consuming cannabis or resin: $150 (+$30 when accompanied by another simple cannabis offence)

Cultivation:

  • One cannabis plant: $300

Smoking/consumption

  • Smoking or consuming cannabis or resin (except in a public place): $150

Expiation notices must be given if found committing those offences in SA, so you are relatively safe from prosecution so long as you keep your quantities low and don’t smoke in public places. And pay your expiation fines on time! Taking more than 28 days will incur a late notice and another fine, any longer than that and you’re risking prosecution.

bills
Don’t fall behind, kids!

Cultivation

Once you move beyond one plant, or you start using ‘artificial enhancement’ in your growing, you become subject to much harsher penalties in SA courts. Artificial enhancement is defined in the Controlled Substances Act (1984) as:

  1. cultivation in a solution comprised wholly or principally of water enriched
    with nutrients; or
  2. cultivation involving the application of an artificial source of light or heat;

Quantities and maximum penalties for cultivation offences are as follows:

  • 1 plant (no artificial enhancement): expiation notice & fine of $300
  • 2 to 4 plants: $1000 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
  • 6 to 9 plants: $2000 fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
  • trafficable quantity (10 to 19 plants): $75,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment
  • commercial quantity (20 to 99 plants): $500,000 and/or life imprisonment
  • large commercial quantity (100+ plants): $500,000 and/or life imprisonment

These maximums are rarely if ever reached. Actual penalties tend to be significantly lower, except in cases involving organised crime or seriously negligent legal advice.

Further Charges

  • Supply and low-level cultivation offences (growing hydro) will be prosecuted in SA, and each carry a maximum $2000 fine and/or 2 years imprisonment.
  • Charges for trafficking or cultivating cannabis are tried summarily (by a judge without a jury) in the Magistrates Court. If the sentence is likely to exceed 5 years, cases will be transferred to the District Court. You’ll be indicted and tried before a jury. The maximum penalty for an offence in this case is up to $50,000 and 10 years imprisonment — $75,000 and 15 years for an aggravated offence.
  • Trafficking, sale, or cultivation or a commercial or ‘large commercial’ quantity can carry sentences of up to $200,000 and 25 years imprisonment. Charges in this range are generally applied for entire grow houses, so recreational stoners have nothing to worry about here.
  • If an expiation notice is not paid, simple cannabis offence charges typically carry a $500-$1000 maximum fine. The criminal record that comes with prosecution will likely be much worse than the damage to your bank account.

Case Studies

Due to the non-prosecutorial nature of South Australian cannabis legislation, small offences are hard to study. I’ve included two examples of larger offences listed in the courts — useful examples of the sorts of sentences that are handed down for larger-scale possession and trafficking charges.

R V SIMON MATTHEW BUCKINGHAM (2019)

41-year-old man charged for trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis. Found with 2.3 kgs of packaged cannabis, two hydroponic plants, and equipment for sale. Defendant had a distant history of prior drug possession offences.

Sentenced to four years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years.

R V VASILIOS MANIATIS (2019)

45-year-old man with no prior convictions, convicted for trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis, as well as cultivating a commercial quantity and possessing associated equipment. Found with 4.6 kg dried cannabis, plus 33 plants at various stages of development.

Sentenced to five years imprisonment, reduced to three years for an early guilty plea including 18 months without parole.

Next Week…

If you’re on your way out of Adelaide and into Melbourne, then you’re in luck – so are we.

The Cannabis Law Cheat Sheet will be back next week with everything you need to know about buds and Victorian state law. Til then!

Angus
Author: Angus

A long-time stoner in the proud Aussie tradition, Angus studies and works out of Melbourne.

Angus
Angus
A long-time stoner in the proud Aussie tradition, Angus studies and works out of Melbourne.

19 COMMENTS

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mate
Mate
5 years ago

Could you expand on the cultivation offenses higher than one plant, and hydro vs outdoors?

Cheers, great resource.

John
John
4 years ago

All these laws still current?

From my understanding the liberal government wanted prison time and higher fine amount for even small amount. What happened?

Cajo
Cajo
4 years ago
Reply to  John

They attempted to but the legislation didn’t pass. So I believe all this information is still relevant

Leonard Johnson
Leonard Johnson
4 years ago

Where can I get some decent nutrients at an affordable price.

MJ
Admin
MJ
4 years ago

Hey Leonard, check out this article for some suggestions: https://friendlyaussiebuds.com/growing/nutrients/

Loki
Loki
4 years ago

I heard something not too long ago that next year it’ll be legal to grow and smoke your owncannabis as long as its on a private property. Is this or is this not true?

Joe Lagrasso
Admin
4 years ago
Reply to  Loki

Nothing confirming that yet at all

Loki
Loki
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe Lagrasso

Aight cheers dude

LGN
LGN
4 years ago
Reply to  Loki

You’re talking about ACT right? Jan 2020. Want to go halves in rent for a place there lol!

Steve
Steve
3 years ago

Do you have any case studies for smaller quantities? Like 3 plants growing under lights in soil for example

Tony Boza
Tony Boza
3 years ago

was able to make my Cannabis fine DISAPPEAR by TELLING THE PROSECUTOR I WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY ALL THE WAY & PICK A JURY TRIAL ARGUE FOR JURY NULLIFICATION THE FINE WAS DROPPED if i was grow obviously a legal fight with global news media coverage would of been on! JURY NULLIFICATION IS SOMETHING LAWYER WILL NOT TELL U ABOUT BUT IT CAN BE USED 2 FORCE POLITICIANS 2 EVENTUALLY THE REPEAL OF THESE ARCHAIC DRACONIAN NAZI FASCIST racist poo-lice profiling causing DRUG PROHIBITION LAWS IF ENOUGH PEOPLE REJECT PLEA BARGAIN DEALS FROM SNEAKY PROSECUTORS AND FIGHT ALL THE WAY… Read more »

TONY BOZA
TONY BOZA
3 years ago

was able to make my Cannabis fine DISAPPEAR by TELLING THE PROSECUTOR I WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY ALL THE WAY & PICK A JURY TRIAL OVER A JUDGE AND ARGUE FOR JURY NULLIFICATION THE FINE WAS VERY QUICKLY DROPPED if i was growING then obviously a legal fight with global news media coverage would of been on! JURY NULLIFICATION IS SOMETHING LAWYER WILL NOT TELL U ABOUT BUT IT CAN BE USED 2 FORCE POLITICIANS 2 EVENTUALLY THE REPEAL OF THESE ARCHAIC DRACONIAN NAZI FASCIST racist poo-lice profiling causing DRUG PROHIBITION LAWS! IF ENOUGH PEOPLE REJECT PLEA BARGAIN DEALS FROM… Read more »

LEGALZATION WARRIOR
LEGALZATION WARRIOR
3 years ago

2 ACHIEVE LEGALIZATION THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO!! was able to make my Cannabis fine DISAPPEAR by TELLING THE PROSECUTOR I WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY ALL THE WAY & PICK A JURY TRIAL OVER A JUDGE AND ARGUE FOR JURY NULLIFICATION THE FINE WAS VERY QUICKLY DROPPED if i was growING then obviously a legal fight with global news media coverage would of been on! JURY NULLIFICATION IS SOMETHING LAWYER WILL NOT TELL U ABOUT BUT IT CAN BE USED 2 FORCE POLITICIANS 2 EVENTUALLY THE REPEAL OF THESE ARCHAIC DRACONIAN NAZI FASCIST racist poo-lice profiling causing DRUG PROHIBITION… Read more »

scrib
scrib
3 years ago

If my partner and I both grow one plant each on the same property does that count as cultivation of a single plant in relation to sa laws?

HOW2FIGHT
HOW2FIGHT
3 years ago
Reply to  scrib

dont worry about any Nazi law as we can fight & defeat these nazi laws by choosing a jury trial or appeal trial & exposing the lying Nazi politicians who will notp do their job & legalize and argue 4 jury nullification also speak out 2 the media during the trial! & say that if jury votes guilty then it is only coz DPP & Nazi state politicians bribes them 2 do so! that will give u grounds 2 seek political asylum in either the dutch or Canadian embassy While exposing 2 the world the Nazi scumbags in Australian politics… Read more »

HOW2FIGHT
HOW2FIGHT
3 years ago

CHOOSE A JURY AND ARGUE FOR NULLIFICATION! THAT IS HOW I AND MY MATES WILL DEFEAT THESE NAZI FASCIST PROHIBITION LAWS AND FORCE LEGALIZATION! & DURING THE NOT GUILTY JURY TRIAL SPEAK OUT 2 THE MEDIA A AND EXPOSE THE LYING SCUMBAG POLITICIANS WHO WILL NOT DO THEIR JOB PROPERLY AND LEGALIZE! THAT IS WHAT WE MUST DO EXPOSE AND BY WHATEVER MEANS REQUIRED REMOVE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL POLITICIAN WHO STANDS IN OUR WAY 2 ACHIEVE CANNABIS LEGALIZATION! U ALSO GOT POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE CANADIAN OR DUTCH EMBASSY AS AN OPTION 2 FIGHT! & SPEAK OUT 2 THE… Read more »

daryl
daryl
3 years ago

just love the way that the government look after themselves eg can grow upto 4 plants & have 150 grams personel & can smoke in your own home un the canbertra. always 1 law 4 them 1 law 4 everybody else. wake up marshall if these laws are good enough 4 our pollies there also good enough 4 all .

rick aylen
rick aylen
2 years ago

Hi, name’s Rick. Just turned 70, got cancer…(cancer’s got me??). I have been a pot smoker since I was 18. Love it.
I started working at 16, hard work often, all over Oz and o/s until in 1974 stumbled in to a career in IT – all the while getting bent daily.
WHY CAN’T I GROW SOME POT?
I used to (ripped off twice, busted once).
I may share it with family and friends but will not make $s or corrupt anyone 🙂

19
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x