SIMPLE LESSON FOR MR R.

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 an adverse impact on
social outcomes for users.

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

They also noted that those convicted under WA'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 probably 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, North Wollongong