Legalise Cannabis Party have released an updated list of candidates for the House of Representatives (Lower House) in the 3rd May Federal Election.
Each and every one of them could do with your support, no matter where you are in Queensland. If you can help, please reach out to the Federal Party, to hand out flyers at early voting or on election day, to host a sign or do mailbox flyer drops. https://www.legalisecannabis.org.au/get_involved
In Queensland, for the House of Representatives, we have, in alpha order of the electorate:
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Anthony Hopkins—Candidate for Blair, a Key Seat, marginal Labor (since 2007) at 5.2%. It includes the City of Ipswich, Somerset Regional Council area, Kilcoy, Esk, Rosewood, Wivenhoe and Somerset dams. Total of 6,472 sq km. Anthony has lived in Queensland for 30 years and brings extensive life experience to the table. He has worked in mines and quarries, pharmaceuticals and overseas with the United Nations and NGOs. Closer to home he has volunteered to feed the homeless and supported democracy by manning election booths. A long-time cannabis law reform advocate, Anthony has been active in court support, rallies and key events like MardiGrass and MedCan. |
He was an ALP branch president pushing for cannabis reform, but when his calls were ignored, he joined Legalise Cannabis Queensland (LCQ) as a foundation member—a party that truly represents the people's voice. He went on to serve as LCQ President for three years before retiring.
Anthony is deeply concerned about the high cost of cannabis medicines, forcing patients to either go without or risk arrest. He believes drug-driving laws unfairly punish medical users and police resources should be focused on real crime.
Legalising cannabis would have huge benefits for Blair and Queensland—from reducing crime to creating jobs in a thriving hemp industry. Anthony is committed to fighting for fairer laws and ensuring cannabis users are treated with justice and compassion.
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Craig Hill—Candidate for Bonner, another Key Seat, LNP (since 2010) by 3.4%. South of the Brisbane River to the eastern boundary of Brisbane City Council, it includes Wynnum, Manly, Lota, Tingalpa, Belmont, Carindale, Mansfield, Mount Gravatt, Wishart and Rochedale, also the Port of Brisbane. Total of 374 sq km. Craig holds both graduate and postgraduate qualifications in business, management and education. Professionally, Craig works as a teacher, corporate trainer, business consultant and journalist. His support for easier access to medicinal cannabis stems from personal experience. Craig lives with PTSD after being taken hostage while teaching in a maximum-security prison. |
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His belief in the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use is shaped by his time as a prison officer, where he witnessed firsthand the brutalisation of young “offenders” caught up in the justice system.
Craig is passionate about personal freedoms, social justice and evidence-based policy. He is dedicated to representing the voices of his community and advocating for national cannabis law reform. Living in the Bonner electorate, he is also deeply committed to addressing the local issues that matter most to residents.
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David Zaloudek—Candidate for Dickson, a Key Seat, the most marginal LNP held seat (since 2001) in Queensland, 1.7%! Former Pine Rivers Shire, includes Kurwongbah, Petrie, Strathpine, Albany Creek, Ferny Hills, Everton Hills, Murrumba Downs, parts of Kallangur, Lake Samsonvale and Lake Kurwongbah. Total of 724 sq km. David is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate with over 20 years of experience. Currently he is transitioning his career into Community Services, driven by his passion for improving the lives of people in his community. Like many Australians with health concerns, David turned to medicinal cannabis for pain relief and improved wellness after struggling with bouts of depression. |
He was delighted to find cannabis to be an effective, safe and natural remedy for his ailments. However, RDT penalties—including fines, licence suspension or loss, a criminal record and voided car insurance—can have devastating effects. Many face job loss, limited future employment opportunities, loss of custody of children and financial ruin simply for having THC in their system.
As a cannabis user, activist, and advocate, David is committed to driving positive change for cannabis in Australia. He supports:
✅ A fully regulated cannabis industry
✅ Reformed drug-driving laws based on impairment, not mere presence of THC
✅ Easier access to medicinal cannabis
✅ The right for Australians to grow their own cannabis
✅ Legalisation of recreational and medicinal use
✅ Expungement of past cannabis-related criminal convictions
David is dedicated to ensuring that all Australians have the freedom to choose cannabis without fear of unjust penalties or discrimination.
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Nicholas Daniels—Candidate for Leichhardt, you guessed it, a Key Seat, the incumbent, Warren Entsch is retiring, marginal LNP (since 2010) at 3.4%. More than 80% of the electorate live in or adjacent to the Cairns metro area. North between Atherton Tablelands and Mossman, to Cape York north of the Mitchell River and all of the Torres Strait islands. At 148,559 sq km, it is more than twice the size of Tasmania and the third largest electorate in Queensland. Nic has been a political cannabis activist for decades, originally becoming politically active by joining the only Party with the same goals he held, the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party. Nic opened the Queensland state branch of the Federal HEMP Party and helped form the Sunshine Coast sub-branch. He went on to become a life member of the HEMP Party, which changed its name to the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party. |
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When the state Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party was forming four years ago, he joined and put his hand up as a candidate.Shortly after moving to the area for work following the 2012 floods, he co-founded the FNQ HEMP Embassy in Kuranda. The Embassy ran a physical location in the markets for several years, but these days it exists in a much reduced, online format.
When the state Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party was forming four years ago, he joined and put his hand up as a candidate. Nic has become more determined than ever to be the voice of change in politics, but not just for cannabis-related issues. He aims to give voters an alternative to the major parties.
Despite losing everything but his house in the December 2023 floods, Nic is rebuilding his life and is keen to represent the needs of the people of Leichhardt. He knows the issues and he knows people are fed up with the major parties doing nothing. He believes now is the time for a good sized crossbench to work with both the Government and opposition to get a better deal.
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Jeff Knipe—Candidate for McPherson, a safe LNP seat (since 2010) at 9.4% with a retiring incumbent. Southern Gold Coast electorate that extends from the border to Burleigh Heads and inland to Robina and Merrimac. Major centres include Coolangatta, Robina, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Tugun and the rural Tallebudgera Valley. 229 sq km. Jeff is a resilient survivor, having faced and overcome two battles with cancer in the past six years. Despite enduring long-term effects and trying a wide range of pharmaceutical treatments with little success, it wasn’t until a terminally ill friend introduced him to cannabis edibles that he experienced a significant improvement in sleep, pain management and appetite. Like many Australians, Jeff’s access to medicinal cannabis comes with an unfair cost. Although he is not impaired, current roadside drug testing (RDT) laws mean Jeff risks losing his licence—and with it, his livelihood—simply for using legally prescribed medication. |
He is committed to fighting for evidence-based drug driving laws that protect road safety without punishing responsible patients. Jeff is also a passionate advocate for personal freedom and believes all Australians should have the right to grow their own cannabis to manage their health. In Parliament, he will work tirelessly to defend this right and to push for reforms that support the more than one million Australians who use legally prescribed cannabis every day.