CANNABIS CAFES ACROSS NSW UNDER NEW BILL

SYDNEY: Cafes where cannabis could be smoked freely would be established
across NSW under a Greens drug-reform Bill to be introduced in the NSW
Parliament.

The "Amsterdam-style" outlets would serve up coffee, magazines and provide
a relaxed setting for people to smoke without fear of being arrested.

NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon said details of the Bill were yet to be
finalised but she claimed support for the concept in the community was
already strong.

The move comes after Thursday's NSW Supreme Court decision to allow
Australia's first trial of a legal heroin injecting room to proceed in
Sydney's Kings Cross.

Ms Rhiannon said it did not make sense to allow heroin users a safe haven
to shoot up while people who used other drugs, such as cannabis, could
still be charged.

She said the cafes would be managed in a similar fashion to the heroin
injecting centre, with information about the ill effects of the drug to be
made available to users.

Ms Rhiannon said she opposed the use of any drugs, including alcohol.

But substance users needed medical help, not being charged and branded
criminals.

Ms Rhiannon, who conceded the Greens would need to persuade other MPs to
support the Bill, said it was worth a trial.

"I personally wish people did not use any drugs, but it is reality that
they do.

"This is about ensuring they get help rather than be persecuted by the police.

"While we support the heroin injecting room, it is a bit of a double
standard to ignore the users of other drugs."

In 1999, police shut down a Kings Cross cafe alleged to have been selling
cannabis with its coffee and turning a blind eye to people smoking the drug.