PRAISE FOR LABOR DRUGS POLICY

ACADEMICS, drug law reformers and social workers have applauded the
State Labor Party for making a commitment to introduce drug harm
minimisation strategies, including a heroin trial.

There was unanimous jupport for the motion to introduce such measures
at the Labor Party conference on Sunday.

Yesterday, Wendy Loxley of the National Centre for Research into the
Prevention of Drug Abuse said information about the controversial
heroin trials indicated that the most important need was for more research.

She said Labor policy, also agreed on at the weekend conference, to
decriminalise the possession of 100g of cannabis on private property
and allow the cultivation of up to five plants for personal use, was a
step in the right direction.

"I think we would support any motion which may keep marijuana users
out of the criminal system," she said.

Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Jason Meotti also
welcomed the Labor move.

"They have shown they are prepared to look beyond the present system
which has clearly failed," he said.

But the Minister responsible for the drug abuse strategy, Rhonda
Parker, said Labor had adopted a defeatist policy.

She said the decriminalisation of cannabis in South Australia had had
disastrous results.

Crime had not decreased and people were growing the drug and sending
it to other States.