conducted largely by NCRPDA.
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n806.a02.html

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