Comparisons between co-called “decriminalized” and prohibitionist Western Australian states show decriminalization has not led to higher rates of current cannabis use. Under prohibition, significant numbers of Western Australian citizens received a criminal record for no more serious offense than possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use. Recent research has shown that such a conviction can have a real and detrimental impact on people’s lives, reinforces disrespect for the cannabis laws, but appears not to deter cannabis use among those so convicted. The paper suggests that applying sanctions for minor cannabis offenses is not in the best interests of the community and recommends an alternative, possibly: (1) total prohibition without an expediency principle; (2) total prohibition with an expediency principle; (3) prohibition with civil penalties for minor offenses (expiation notice schemes); (4) partial prohibition; (5) regulation; or (6) free availability. Tables, references