A number of books and magazines have been banned in Australia for promoting the use of illegal drugs.
The Cannabis Encyclopedia
aka The Cannabis Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to Cultivation & Consumption of Medical Marijuana
Author Jorge Cervantes / 2015 / USA
In 2022, a copy of THE CANNABIS ENCYCLOPEDIA was seized in Victoria while on its way to Tasmania.
It was ‘objectionable goods’ under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.
May 6, 2022
John Reeves, 60, of Lower Longley, suffers from fibromyalgia as a result of a spinal injury he sustained when he was a teenager. The condition causes him chronic pain, which he treats using medicinal cannabis, as approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.Mr Reeves said he had been receiving the disability support pension for about 15 years and cannabis had proven to be a highly effective means of managing his pain.
He runs the Medical Cannabis Users Association of Tasmania and has lobbied for the drug to be decriminalised.
“It’s a bit weird,” Mr Reeves told the Mercury. “I think it’s just an overzealous interpretation of the (regulations).”
“(The book) is freely available on the internet.
“We’re not talking about hijacking planes or anything.”
“It’s …about cannabis strains, where it comes from, different types of strains, how to grow it, how to prepare it,” Mr Reeves said. “So it’s basically an information reference book on cannabis –and probably one of the best ones.”
Mr Reeves said he was in the process of asking the ABF to review the decision.
His lawyer, Fabiano Cangelosi, said there was “absolutely no basis for the seizure of this book from a man who is permitted legally to use cannabis”.
A spokesman for the ABF said it did not comment on individual circumstances “due to privacy reasons”.
– John Reeves, approved user of medicinal cannabis, has book about drug seized by Border Force
– themercury.com.au
Edibles
aka Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen
Author Stephanie Hua & Coreen Carroll / 2019 / USA
In April 2021, a 152-page edition of EDIBLES was banned by the Classification Board.
April 30, 2021
– Classification Board
Pubs 1(c): The publication is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Publications Table, 1. (c) as publications that “promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence”.
The applicant was the Australian Border Force NSW.
Psychedelic Cannabis
aka Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness
Author Daniel McQueen / 2019 / USA
In September 2022, a 246-page edition of PSYCHEDELIC CANNABIS was banned by the Classification Board.
The applicant was the Australian Border Force.