PERSONAL POT MAY BE LEGAL

The personal use of marijuana could be decriminalised in Tasmania next
year after public debate.

Attorney-General Peter Patmore said yesterday that he favored the
reform, but not at the expense of a divisive debate, with a community
refusing to accept the reform.

He said a former Liberal Government initiative, taken on police
advice, to apply a cautioning system for first offenders rather than
lump them with a court record, ought to be given another four months'
operation so that the result could be assessed before looking at
decriminalisation.

"My views on this issue are quite clear. Prohibition doesn't work, but
there is no use having a debate which splits the community," he said.

He said a move to legalise marijuana for specified personal quantites
would be coupled with action on national uniform moves to crack down
on harder drugs. A report is due for release in Canberra soon.

"We actually have more lenient laws in Tasmania on marijuana than some
other states, and if I can show the public a sensible approach to
legal personal usage, where precious police time is not wasted, and
otherwise law abiding citizens are not lumped with a criminal record,
then we can take the next step," he said.

"After all, when police now charge a person for personal usage they
are usually let off under the Probation of Offenders Act," he said.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry