MAJORITY SUPPORT PERSONAL 'DOPE' USE

About three-quarters of Australians support decriminalising possession
of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, a Newspoll has found.

Life Education Australia executive director Terry Metherell said the
poll, conducted last weekend, showed support for fines instead of
criminal records in minor marijuana offences was strong across all age
groups.

It was strongest among people aged 25-34 (84 per cent) and weakest
among those over 50 (66 per cent).

"Married respondents or those with children or in full-or part-time
work were more likely to favour the use of fines than respondents who
were unmarried, without children or not in the workforce," Dr
Metherell said.

White collar employees were significantly more likely to support the
use of fines over criminal records than blue collar employees (81 per
cent versus 66 per cent).

Similarly, those in high income-earning households were significantly
more likely to support fines than those in low income-earning
households (81 per cent versus 63 per cent).

"Australians appear to strongly support the decriminalisation of a
small amount of marijuana for personal use, as has occurred in South
Australia, the ACT and Northern Territory," Dr Metherell said.

"Current moves toward cautioning and diversion for young and first
offenders in minor marijuana cases in Victoria and NSW are also likely
to have widespread public support."

The Newspoll also found most Australians favoured treating drug
offenders rather than sentencing them to prison.

Seventy per cent of those surveyed supported treatment for those
caught in possession of illegal drugs while 22 per cent favoured prison.

Dr Metherell said both young and old respondents to the survey had a
strong preference for treatment.

While support for this approach was highest among the young, 66 per
cent of those aged 50 years and over favoured treatment over
incarceration.

"The message for governments is that Australians are caring and want
to help people with drug problems, especially young and first time
offenders," Dr Metherell said.

"Australians want their National Drug Strategy to focus on recovery
not punishment and believe treatment is more effective than prison in
dealing with drug offenders caught in possession but not involved in
serious crime."