He has been a passionate adult-use cannabis advocate for many years.
Mr Taylor worked on the steering committee that registered the party, building support, membership and awareness.
Originally inspired by the injustice of cannabis prohibition, he first ran in the May 2022 Federal Election as the second Victorian Senate candidate, also running in the seat of Bendigo West in the 2022 Victorian State Election.
Mr Taylor feels that the government’s approach to cannabis prohibition has failed, and its impact on industrial hemp farming is holding regional Victoria back.
He sees large economic potential for the industry, looking to lobby to the Federal Government if elected.
Currently, the Legalise Cannabis Party has four members of state parliaments, with two in Victoria, one in NSW and one in Western Australia.
Mr Taylor drew on Legalise Cannabis Victoria’s Industrial Hemp Bill, brought to parliament in 2024 to establish an easier pathway for the industry to thrive.
Looking at the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s wastewater drug monitoring from December 2023, Mr Taylor highlighted that regional Victorians consume twice the amount of cannabis as their urban counterparts.
This looked like 240 doses per 1000 people per day, compared to 125 doses per 1000 people per day in Melbourne.
He said that this included medicinal cannabis prescription holders, who he feels are punished by drug driving laws in Victoria, which the LCP introduced an amendment to, coming into effect in March 2025.
Mr Taylor emphasised their hemp policy, which he feels could create many jobs in a new industry.
Further, he believes the hemp industry has potential to provide benefits like sustainable agriculture and construction materials.
Mr Taylor said that in 2024, the Victorian Farmers Federation backed a private member’s bill aimed at removing regulations to stop farmers from growing industrial hemp.
He said his party approached every issue with evidence, common sense and values like social justice, equality, civil liberties, human rights, tolerance and compassion.
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