The Legalise Cannabis Party Australia (LCP), also known as Legalise Cannabis Australia (LCA) and formerly the HEMP Party, is a national single-issue political party dedicated to cannabis legalisation. Founded in 1993 (as the HEMP Party) by Nigel Quinlan, it officially rebranded to LCA in 2021. Led by long-time president Michael Balderstone, the party’s platform centers on re-legalising and regulating cannabis for personal, medicinal and industrial use. Its headquarters are in Nimbin (NSW), a town long associated with cannabis culture.
Key Policies and Platform
Legalise Cannabis Party policies focus on sweeping cannabis law reform. Its official plan proposes a multi-stage legalization process. Key elements include:
- Personal possession: Legalise the private possession of modest amounts (e.g. up to 50 g) and allow home cultivation of a few plants.
- Medical access: Expand lawful access to medicinal cannabis, making prescriptions and safe production easier.
- Social clubs: Establish licensed, non-profit cannabis social clubs (capped membership) where adults can obtain cannabis legally.
- Hemp industry: Develop a regulated hemp and cannabis industry for health products, textiles and other uses.
- Public health & safety: Regulate quality, testing and labelling of cannabis products, ban advertising, and mandate child-proof packaging.
- Criminal justice: Expunge past convictions for minor cannabis offences and reform drug laws to decriminalise users.
These policies are spelled out in the LCP’s official platform. For example, Stage One would legalise up to 50 g possession and 6 home-grown plants. Later stages would introduce licensed cultivation and regulated retail with consumer protections. In practice, the party advocates treating cannabis like alcohol: legal for adults, with strict rules to protect public health.
Legalise Cannabis Party Australia : Electoral Performance & Results
The Legalise Cannabis Party has contested many elections at federal and state levels. While it has not yet won a federal parliament seat, its vote share has steadily risen. In the 2022 federal election, LCP polled about 3.3% nationally for the Senate. By early 2025, initial Senate counts showed LCP votes around 4–5% in most states (e.g. 6.9% in NT, 4.71% in WA, 4.13% in Vic). This surge made the party a contender for Senate quotas. A Cannabis Law Report analysis noted LCP was “averaging around 5% of the vote for Senate seats,” up from ~2–3% in 2022.
Notably, the party has achieved legislative seats at the state level. Recent results include:
- Western Australia (2021): Legalise Cannabis WA won 2 seats in the Legislative Council (Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond).
- Victoria (2022): Two LCP candidates, David Ettershank and Rachel Payne, were elected to the Victorian Legislative Council.
- New South Wales (2023): Former Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham won a NSW Legislative Council seat on an LCA ticket.
- Queensland (2024 by-election): LCP candidate Lindsay Melody scored 14.57% of the primary vote in Ipswich West (a party record).
Below is a quick summary of recent seats and votes:
- WA (2021 State) – 2 of 36 upper-house seats.
- VIC (2022 State) – 2 of 40 upper-house seats.
- NSW (2023 State) – 1 of 42 upper-house seats.
- Federal Senate (2025) – ~4–5% first-preference votes in several states.
- Federal House (2025) – fielded ~40 candidates (best performances ~5% in some seats).
These results show that the Legalise Cannabis Party’s support is growing. Its emergence on the crossbench in state parliaments marks the first parliamentary representation in its history.
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How to Vote & Preferences
Voters can support the party by ranking LCP (or its state affiliates) on their ballots. In Senate elections, the party often distributes how-to-vote cards outlining preferred orderings. For example, in the 2025 federal campaign the ALP and LCP in Victoria’s Division of Wills swapped preferences: Labor listed LCP ahead of the Greens, and LCP in turn preferenced Labor in the House. These preference deals are strategic: under Australia’s preferential voting, minor parties like LCP can influence outcomes by directing preferences. Ultimately, each voter controls their own preferences, but most supporters simply number LCP first if they want to help legalisation prospects. (Full instructions are on the LCP website or ballot papers on election day.)
Key People and Affiliates
The Legalise Cannabis Party has a national organization plus state affiliates. Key figures include:
- Michael Balderstone – Party President (long-time leader).
- Brian Walker – WA LCP leader and Member of the WA Legislative Council (East Metropolitan).
- David Ettershank – Member of Victorian Legislative Council (Northern Metropolitan).
- Rachel Payne – Member of Victorian Legislative Council (North-Eastern Metropolitan).
- Jeremy Buckingham – Member of NSW Legislative Council (elected 2023).
The party has active branches (“Legalise Cannabis [State]”) in all mainland states. Its affiliates share the same platform but register candidates under state party names (e.g. Legalise Cannabis WA, Legalise Cannabis Victoria). Apart from parliamentarians above, it has many volunteers and community supporters, particularly in cannabis-friendly regions.
Public Support for Cannabis Reform
Public opinion in Australia has been shifting in the party’s favour. For example, a national YouGov poll (Jan 2024) found 50% of Australians supported legalizing home cultivation of cannabis, with only ~31% opposed. Majorities especially favored decriminalization. Younger voters were even more supportive. These attitudes suggest a broad base for LCP’s agenda. (Note: polls specifically measuring the Legalise Cannabis Party are scarce, but growing first-preference votes indicate its message resonates.)
FAQs
Q: What is the Legalise Cannabis Party Australia (LCP)?
A: The Legalise Cannabis Party Australia, also called Legalise Cannabis Australia (LCA), is a minor political party in Australia whose main goal is cannabis law reform. It began as the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party in 1993 and changed its name in 2021. The party campaigns for legalising cannabis for adult personal use, medical access, and industrial hemp, as well as reforming related laws.
Q: What are the main policies of the Legalise Cannabis Party?
A: LCP’s platform is fully devoted to cannabis. It proposes legalising modest personal use (e.g. up to 50 g or 6 plants) while implementing strict public health rules. The party supports creating licensed non-profit cannabis clubs, expanding medical cannabis programs, and growing a regulated hemp industry. It also calls for expunging low-level cannabis convictions and decriminalising users. All policies emphasize safety (quality testing, child protection, advertising bans) while removing criminal penalties for cannabis consumption.
Q: How has the Legalise Cannabis Party performed in elections?
A: Federally, LCP has never won a seat, but its vote share is rising. In 2019 it polled ~1.8% for Senate, and in 2022 it reached about 3.3% nationally. In 2025 counting it hovered around 4–6% in many states, making it competitive for a Senate quota in some cases. At the state level, LCP affiliates have won seats: WA (2 Council seats in 2021), Victoria (2 Council seats in 2022), NSW (1 Council seat in 2023). In a 2024 Queensland by-election, an LCP candidate received 14.57% of first preferences. These results show growing support, especially in regional and rural areas.
Q: How can I vote for the Legalise Cannabis Party?
A: If you support cannabis legalisation, you can vote for LCP on your ballot by putting it first (or high) among your preferences. In Senate elections you can vote above the line for LCP, or below the line by numbering candidates. On how-to-vote cards, LCP or affiliate members will often suggest an ordering of other parties to preference after them. For example, in 2025 both the ALP and LCP recommended preferencing each other in Victoria’s seat of Wills. In general, mark “1” for LCP and continue with others as you wish. Remember: under Australia’s preferential system, your own numbering determines the flow of your vote.
Q: Who are the current Legalise Cannabis Party members in parliament?
A: LCP has five state parliament members (as of 2025): Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond (WA Legislative Council members elected 2021), David Ettershank and Rachel Payne (Victorian Legislative Council members elected 2022), and Jeremy Buckingham (NSW Legislative Council member elected 2023). Note: Sophia Moermond, originally elected on an LCP ticket, later left the party (in mid-2024). There are currently no LCP members in the Federal Parliament.
Conclusion
The Legalise Cannabis Party Australia continues to grow as a voice for cannabis law reform. Its clear single-issue platform resonates with many Australians – indeed, recent polls show roughly half the population backing legal home cultivation. With active branches in every state and its first MPs elected to state parliaments, the party has moved from a fringe campaign to a minor force in Australian politics. Readers interested in cannabis policy are encouraged to learn more, share this article, and participate in the debate. By staying informed and voting for candidates who support legalisation, Australians can play a part in shaping the future of cannabis law reform. Join the conversation: discuss, comment and share with #LegaliseCannabisAU to help the cause.
Sources: Authoritative election and news sources (ABC, Cannabis Law Report, YouGov) and the party’s Wikipedia page were used to compile these facts.
