ON-THE-SPOT PENALTIES FOR CANNABIS USE 'NOT WORKING'

CANNABIS use by teenagers in Canberra is at chronic levels, forcing many
drug-affected children out of the education system and leading to family
breakdowns, according to Independent MLA Dave Rugendyke.

Mr Rugendyke and his colleague, Independent Paul Osborne, say the ACT must
urgently review its ``soft'' cannabis laws, that provide $100 on-the-spot
fines for possession of small amounts for personal use.

They say cannabis can create a drug-induced psychosis and long-term use can
lead to personality disorders, depression, paranoia and criminal behaviour.

On-the-spot fines were rarely paid (ACT Government figures show 47 per cent
have been paid) and offenders virtually escaped without penalty or
treatment for their addiction.

Many children turned to crime to pay for cannabis, then spent most of their
time ``stoned'' and incapable of going to school or holding down a job.

On-the-spot fines were introduced in 1992 by Independent MLA (now Health
Minister) Michael Moore.

Mr Rugendyke will travel to Western Australia in June as a member of the
Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Health (chaired by Labor MLA
Bill Wood) to examine a system adopted by the Western Australian
Government, involving police cautions and education programs.

Western Australian police issue cautions when offenders carry 50g or less
(in Canberra the fine is for 25g or less) and it is a first offence.

Offenders must attend an education session giving information about the
dangers of cannabis use.

The Health Committee is conducting an inquiry into a Bill tabled by Mr
Rugendyke, repealing on-the-spot fines and giving police the option of
issuing cautions or placing offenders before the courts.

Mr Rugendyke said the fine system left teenagers believing cannabis was
harmless, legal and ``quasi okay''.

Mr Osborne said cannabis use by young people was a serious and growing
problem.

``There is a lot of difference in people's opinions about what exactly is
the right solution,'' he said. ``One thing I do know, however is that what
we have now is clearly not it.''

Mr Osborne said one of the better options he had found was the Western
Australian project, which had been running for 18 months, with impressive
results. Of those caught, about three-quarters no longer believed cannabis
was a safe drug and two-thirds said they would not use cannabis again.

``Of course, this is still a far from perfect solution but I for one would
be pleased if we could at least repeat those results here," Mr Osborne
said.

He and Mr Rugendyke planned to amend his Bill to include an education
program.

The Australian Illicit Drugs Report 1998-99 says cannabis is Australia's
most widely used illicit drug.

Between 1995 and 1998, the proportion of people aged 14 or older who had
used the drug in the preceding 12 months increased from 13.2 per cent to
17.9 per cent.