Going Bush for Bud: Regional Victoria Could Deliver Cannabis Senate Win

Cannabis use in regional Victoria is outpacing the cities—and that groundswell of support
could help the Legalise Cannabis Party secure its first-ever Senate seat.
This weekend, the Legalise Cannabis Party and Lead Senate Candidate, Fiona
Patten will be visiting Wodonga, Wangaratta and Shepparton —regional hubs that
have demonstrated strong support for the Legalise Cannabis Party.

Patten brings significant political experience, having served eight years in the Victorian
Parliament where she championed progressive reforms. Her achievements include
introducing safe access zones around abortion clinics, spent convictions laws, the
legalisation of voluntary assisted dying, and initiating Victoria’s first hemp taskforce.
Patten also made history as the first sitting MP to openly acknowledge her regular cannabis
use, underscoring her dedication to reducing stigma and advocating for common-sense
cannabis policies. She also helped lead the way for changes to Victoria’s outdated and
unfair Roadside Drug Testing laws.

According to the latest wastewater drug monitoring report, cannabis use in regional Victoria
is nearly double that of metropolitan areas: 240 doses per 1,000 people per day, compared
to 125 doses in urban centers. Despite high usage, arrest rates remain lower outside the
cities (except for hotspots like Shepparton and Mildura), highlighting the need for a
progressive, harm-reduction approach to cannabis policy.

Australia ranks among the top countries globally for cannabis consumption—behind only
Spain and the Netherlands. This growing trend is reflected in the increasing support for the
Legalise Cannabis Party, which now holds seats in the state parliaments of Victoria, New
South Wales, and Western Australia.

In the 2021 federal election, the party achieved notable results in regional Victoria. In the
seat of Nicholls, it secured 4.93% of the vote and appeared in the top three preferences in
13.1% of Senate votes. Wodonga proved to be a stronghold, with booths like Wodonga
Central and Wodonga South delivering 8.22% and 7.44% of the vote respectively.
Wangaratta also showed solid support at 7%.

The momentum carried into the 2022 state election, with nearly 1 in 12 voters (8%) in
Wodonga and Wangaratta backing the Legalise Cannabis Party on election day.
In the federal seat of Indi, the 2021 election saw the party receive 4.36% of the vote and
appear in the top three choices in 12.8% of Senate votes. Strong performances were
recorded in booths like Mooroopna (8.1%) and Shepparton South (7.3%). This trend
continued in the 2022 state election, with Mooroopna polling 11.9% and Mount Buller/Merrijig
recording 11.3%.

In 2021, Clive Palmer’s party claimed the final Senate seat in Victoria with just over 4% of
the vote. With regional support for cannabis reform surging, the Legalise Cannabis Party is
well-placed to make history at the upcoming federal election.

Media Contact:
Fiona Patten
0413 734 613
fiona@fionapatten.com.au

Fiona’s Regional Tour Schedule:
● Friday: Wodonga
● Saturday: Wangaratta
● Sunday: Shepparto