CLAMP-DOWN ON CANNABIS WOULD HAVE BAD EFFECTS

I would like to thank MLA Dave Rugendyke for taking an interest in
drug-law reform issues and hope he will continue to educate himself in
this area.

I am, however, concerned that he feels the need to increase penalties
for cannabis use at a time when most states are moving in the opposite
direction.

Without entering into debate regarding the possible dangers associated
with cannabis use, surely the critical point is whether increasing
penalties actually decreases use; and whether they do so without
adversely impacting social outcomes for users.

Both these issues were addressed in recent studies by the National
Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and reported in the national papers.
They compared the effects of Western Australia's strict prohibition of
cannabis use with South Australia's infringement system. Their
conclusions were that neither system deterred users, with up to 90 per
cent of interviewees saying it had not affected their cannabis use.

They also noted that those convicted under Western Australia's law
were considerably more likely to lose their job, lose their
accommodation, experience relationship problems and have a future
encounter with the criminal-justice system.

The lesson is simple: Mr Rugendyke's proposed changes to the ACT
cannabis laws will likely have little impact on cannabis use but a
very negative effect on social outcomes for offenders.

Copies of the reports mentioned above are available from the
Department of Health and Aged Care's Population Health Division's
publications distribution officer on (02) 6289 8654.

KEN RUSSELL
kenbo01@ozemail.com.au
North Wollongong, NSW