Background: One of the problems with civil penalty schemes for cannabis is that typically less than 50% of notices are expiated by the due date. This brings such schemes into disrepute and can lead to serious unintended consequences for individuals who fail to pay. This study aimed to differentiate expiators from non expiators in the first 21 months of data from Western Australia’s (WA) Cannabis Infringement Notice (CIN) scheme which became law on 22 March 2004. Under the scheme adults in possession of not more than 30 grams of cannabis, 2 non-hydroponic plants or a used smoking implement are eligible to receive an infringement notice ranging from $100 to $200 per offence. They have 28 days to pay the fine or attend a cannabis education session. Failure to complete one of these results in an increased financial penalty and, if this debt is not paid, suspension of their driver’s licence. Overall, 65-70% of CINs are expiated.
Method: Logistic regression analyses were carried out on data from the first 4946 persons issued a CIN. Data linkage was used to match CIN data with criminal record data. Information on levels of police training, geographic information systems data on distance from place of residence to nearest education session and mean income by residential postcode data were also included.
Results: Those who were Indigenous, those with a serious criminal record, those living outside the metropolitan area, females and those in lower income areas were less likely to expiate. Expiators who attended the education session rather than paying the fine lived closer to the nearest education session, were female and had a higher fine.
Discussion: The results provide useful insights into how expiation rates can be improved while at the same time providing a 'reality check' on individual and system factors that hinder expiation.