CANNABIS LAWS OVERHAUL

Fines for people caught smoking, selling or cultivating cannabis will
increase, in some cases triple, from December.

Attorney-General Michael Atkinson yesterday announced the increase in
cannabis related fines.

Mr Atkinson says the review of legislation will deliver the first
increase in fines in more than 20 years.

The fine for the ground cultivation of one cannabis plant will jump
from $150 to $300 on December 3.

The current $50 fine for possessing less than 25g of cannabis or less
than 5g of cannabis resin, smoking or consuming cannabis or cannabis
resin or possessing cannabis using equipment, will triple to $150.

The $150 fine for possessing 25g to 100g of cannabis or 5 to 20g of
cannabis resin will double to $300.

"The Controlled Substances Act was introduced in 1984 and fines have
remained unchanged since 1985," Mr Atkinson said.

"This means the current fees do not reflect their original intent to
prohibit the illegal use of cannabis.

"What we are announcing today will see some fines double and others
treble when the new fees come into effect on December 3, 2006."