CANBERRA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt has called for the nation's capital to release the health evidence it considered before legalizing cannabis.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly in September voted to legalize the possession, use and growth of small amounts of cannabis from January 2020.
As the federal government considers whether to intervene, the Health Minister Greg Hunt has written a letter to Andrew Barr, the ACT's Chief Minister, detailing his concerns about the health impacts of legalizing the drug.
"I have serious concerns the ACT's legislation will result in further health harms and exacerbate mental health issues, particularly for those who have a family history of mental health disorders," he wrote, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Sunday.
"I note that both the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) have also expressed concerns over the legislation, with the latter calling for it to be reversed."
Hunt attached research on the effects of cannabis on both mental and physical health to the letter.
"I call on you to explain whether the ACT Government considered the international evidence on the health effects of cannabis and to provide any evidence to the contrary," he wrote.
However, as it will remain illegal under Australian law, federal police officers will still have the power to charge anyone with cannabis-related offences in the territory.
