Queensland Vote Shows Growing Support for Cannabis Legalisation

In 2020, Legalise Cannabis Queensland (LCQ) Party stood candidates in 23 seats and averaged 3.7% of the first preference vote over those seats, including an outstanding 5.5% in both Bundaberg and Ipswich.

Fast forward to 2024 and with only a few more days of vote counting to go, the current average percentage of first preference votes, over the 29 seats LCQ candidates stood in, is inching toward 5%.

Election Day 2024 began at or about 4.20 am with the Party's candidate for Mackay, Ben, posting on social media, ‘The things we do for love’, and with that statement, a day so full of promise had begun!

Former Party President and candidate for Nanango, Tony, posted an image of daybreak at a polling booth in Esk and Dr Shaun, the candidate for Buderim, wished everyone good luck with a quotable quote, ‘It’s not just good, it’s good enough’.

Images from top left: Mackay booth, Buderim booths (x 3), and a couple of outstanding Mackay volunteers (thank you)!

At 5.30 am volunteers in the Bundaberg region had coffee made and lunches packed, ready to ‘smash the day’ in both Bundy and Burnett electorates!

At 6.00 am, Party Secretary and candidate for Coomera, Suzette, reminded all the candidates and their volunteers of the need to cover up (Party shirts) if needing to use the facilities at any of the polling booths!

Images from below left: In the electorates of Bundaberg (x 3) candidates and volunteers, Coomera, Nicklin, Macalister and Buderim (being photobombed by Labor) alongside a friendly booth in Esk!

Around 7.00 am, candidates started posting images of their corflutes at booths across the State, from the Gold Coast, out to Warrego and up the coast as far as Hinchinbrook.

With polling booths open, and voting underway, the eye-catching LCQ stickers, flyers and How-to-vote cards proved very popular with the voting public, with many candidates lamenting they would run out early on in the proceedings.

The Party notes that for next time they’d like to see a paper free polling booth, using modern technology instead (even though some voters suggested smokeable ballot papers and others joked about there being no free samples)!

Images below: LCQ How-to-vote cards, stickers and flyers were hugely popular with voters in most electorates including those for Bundaberg, Glass House and Burnett.
Images from below left: Coomera, Warrego, Logan and Hervey Bay booths, candidates and volunteers!

In the electorate of Logan, candidate Jackie noted that at each of the booths other Party volunteers and members were keen to take the LCQ stickers, ‘for their friends’ (still need to work on that stigma)!

In the noon-day heat in Hervey Bay voting was all but over, with the majority having taken advantage of early voting across the previous fortnight.

Mackay candidate Ben recalled having some great conversations over the course of polling and Jeff in Hervey Bay related his joy at being able to assist a lady with terrible tremors by showing her a video of CBD in action and suggesting a new medical clinic she could attend. For his care and concern he received the promise of her #1 vote!

Images from top left: Mackay, Hervey Bay, Mulgrave, Gladstone and Gaven candidates hard at work!

At booths throughout the electorate of Mulgrave (southern Cairns), candidate Nic was pleased to report that of the ten candidates running, the majority of voters accepted his How-to-vote cards and passed on all the others.

Further south in the electorate of Pumicestone, young candidate Rosie was elated at the volunteer and community reaction to her candidacy. ‘Awesome community response from people I know on a personal level from school fundraising or work. I shocked a few people who didn't know it was me, and then realised they knew me, so they changed their minds and voted for me’.

Images from top left: Booth in Pumicestone, Moreton booth and candidate, as well as Murrumba and Bundamba candidates.

With exhausted candidates checking in from all parts of the State, Party Secretary Suzette reminded everyone that just running was winning. Now, as we head towards final counting, it seems there are more voters than ever whom feel empowered to postal vote for LCQ, even more privacy than the ballot box, one might think.

The following is a rundown of the current state of play (as at close of vote counting 1 November) in the 29 electorates candidates were fielded, noting vote counting is continuing.

Images above from left: Candidates for Redlands, Caloundra and Glass House spreading the good word!

The most notable movers in the past few days have been Suzanne in the electorate of Redlands, with a first preference vote count now at 4.15% and still rising.

Ingrid in Toowoomba South is at 3.94% and the way postal votes have been going is a good chance at 4%. At 3.9%, Jacinta in Rockhampton is also a chance at cracking the big four! With 3.83%, Tony in Nanango is an outside chance at attaining the magic 4% as well.

Currently with 25 candidates achieving nearly 4% or over, the news for the Party is all good news! Except for the fact that the LNP won the election, which will set cannabis law reform back a few decades, it would seem.

However, having been dealt this unwitting blow at the ballot box, the Party hopes the MAIC Review will shine a light on the ongoing discrimination against medical cannabis users who drive in Queensland and with a defence being offered in Victoria and considered in New South Wales, Queensland should be next.

Images below from left: Nicklin candidate and volunteers (thank you ladies)!

With the LCQ Party President in the electorate of Nicklin achieving close to 8%, Melody is certainly leading by example (and ahead of One Nation)! Jeff is following closely behind in Hervey Bay with nearly 7% of the first preference vote (well ahead of the Greens) and in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Tim has nearly 6.4% of the first preference vote whilst on the Gold Coast, in the electorate of Coomera, Party Secretary Suzette is currently polling over 6%.

Images from top left: Booth in Hervey Bay, Ninderry candidate, volunteers and candidate in Coomera and Bundaberg/Burnett.

Melody said that it is really exciting to see the Party's primary vote increase and noted that perceptions were definitely starting to change about the Legalise Cannabis Parties, noting however that there is much more yet to be done in terms of education and raising awareness. Post election day, Melody was keen to point out that LCQ voters came from right across the political spectrum.

With a core body of only seven people, the LCQ Party has improved on their previous outing and would like to sincerely thank their twenty-nine candidates, with each and every one bringing a special something to the campaign. It was inspiring to hear their stories with cannabis and to see and hear them sharing their stories with the voting public and connecting with and being able to relate to the voters on all levels.

Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party is part of the fourth largest and fastest growing political movement in Australia at this juncture in time. Melody stated that the Party had no regrets about anything to do with the State Election and further noted that if people were upset to not see a candidate in their electorate, maybe the next time the Party puts out a call for volunteers, they could put their hand up to help further raise awareness of the Party and the need to legalise cannabis for all Queenslanders.

The Party looks forward to welcoming more members and going forward are very happy with this result and know it has helped with the groundwork for the upcoming federal election. The Party is eternally grateful to the unsung heroes of every election, the volunteers and looks forward to seeing you all again next time around, in 2028!

Queensland State Election 2024

In the meantime however, the Party is turning its attention to the upcoming federal election, with Queensland’s lead Senate candidate, Belinda Jones, making quite the splash on social media!

As a movement, we know legalising cannabis needs to happen. The Federal Government is out of step with most Australians who say cannabis use and possession should not be a crime. The Party wants the police to stop wasting precious resources on so-called cannabis crimes so they can devote more time to reducing actual crimes against the community. There needs to be more government investment into using hemp biofuel for renewable, sustainable power (second generation use for farmers) along with hempcrete for healthy, fire-proof housing.

3 November, 2024