Cannabis Intervention Program

The program is for those who

Are 14 years or older
Have been found in possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis
Have been issued with a cannabis intervention requirement by WA Police

Participation can help avoid the legal consequences of a criminal conviction while providing access to personalised support. Holyoake also offers a range of other support services, including alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselling, mental health services and support for young people.

About the Program

The cannabis intervention requirement scheme provides early and brief interventions for individuals who have been found in possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis or a smoking implement by the WA Police. These people will then be referred to our cannabis intervention program.

Our counsellors provide cannabis intervention sessions of up to 90 minutes, providing a range of support including psychoeducation, harm minimisation and relapse prevention strategies to help participants:

Explore their current use of cannabis
Consider what changes they may be able to make
Reduce the risk of criminal convictions and associated negative outcomes

Once the program has been completed, the individual has no further obligations and will not receive a criminal conviction.

How it Works

When someone has been caught by police in possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis or a smoking implement, the police will assess whether they are eligible for a Cannabis Intervention Requirement.

If they have been deemed eligible, they will be sent a notice. Upon receiving the notice, they have up to 28 days to contact the Cannabis Intervention Program booking service to schedule their appointment.

Once an individual has attended their appointment and completed the requirement, we advise the WA Police and the booking service. Nothing else is required of the individual, and they will not receive a criminal conviction.

If for any reason the individual is unable to attend or fails to complete the requirement, they will need to attend court.

Important Information

Adults (18+) can receive only one CIR notice
Young people (14-17) can receive up to two CIR notices

The CIR scheme does not apply to

Possession or cultivation of cannabis plants
Possession of cannabis resin (hash), hash oil or other cannabis derivatives

Book Your Cannabis Intervention Session

If you have been issued with a CIR, please contact the Cannabis Intervention Session Booking Service to arrange your session. To book a session, call 1800 722 362. Sessions are run 7 days a week, between the hours of 7AM – 7PM.

Electronic brochures with further information on the Cannabis Intervention Requirement and the Cannabis Intervention Session are available from the Mental Health Commision resources page.

Programs With Holyoake

At Holyoake, we offer a wide range of support and treatment programs tailored to meet diverse needs. Whether you’re seeking help with alcohol and other drugs, mental health challenges, or support for young people, our team is here to offer support and help you build the skills and knowledge needed to overcome life’s difficulties and move forward with confidence.

Our team spans Western Australia and offers face-to-face, phone and virtual telehealth support. For more information, contact a member of our friendly team today!

Frequently Asked Questions

If an individual is under 18 years of age, they will be given two opportunities to complete a Cannabis Intervention session, meaning that if they have completed one and then get caught again, the police can offer a second opportunity. If the individual gets caught again after having completed two CIR sessions, they will receive a summons to court.

Individuals over the age of 18 (who have previously completed one or two CIR sessions while under the age of 18) have one final opportunity to complete a CIR session.

Individuals over the age of 18 who have already completed a CIR session (after they turned 18) will no longer be eligible to attend a CIR session. If they are caught with any amount of cannabis, they will receive a summons to court and face a criminal conviction.

Participants have 28 days to complete the CIR session. If they cannot complete the session within this time, they may apply in writing to the WA Police for an extension – they may be granted one if they can provide proof of extenuating circumstances.

Once the 28-day period has expired, anyone who has not completed their CIR session or been granted an extension will be prosecuted through the courts.

Cannabis Intervention sessions are individual counselling sessions that can last up to 90 minutes. Our team employs a harm-reduction approach – the aim is not to lecture the individual but to provide the support the individual needs to assess their current use of cannabis and explore any changes they may wish to make. In other words, the counsellor will offer participants information and strategies that can help them reduce or stop their current use.

At the end of our sessions, the counsellor will offer to arrange ongoing support. Alternatively, participants can ask their counsellor about ongoing support or speak with reception to request further sessions.

We ask participants to bring their Cannabis Intervention Requirement paperwork (provided by the WA Police) and photo identification (a current driver’s licence, a current passport, an 18+ identification card or another approved form of photo ID).

Although the Cannabis Intervention Program is designed for those who are given a CIR notice, Holyoake offers a range of alcohol and other drug services that can assist in quitting cannabis and other drugs.

If you or someone you know needs assistance in quitting cannabis, you can refer them here.

Contact our team today Refer a client

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