DRUG CAUTION SCHEME GETS IT WRONG

PIERS Akerman went to the heart of the Victorian drug issue in "High ideals
a downer" (Daily Telegraphm July 9).

Up to 95 per cent of first offenders will already be habitual users or addicted.

Believing they will take cautions and health notices seriously in their
drugged state is pipedreaming, especially when most supporting
decriminalisation publicly state that cannabis is a "recreational" drug.

The scheme is also driven by the wrong principles - to free up courts - and
contradicts almost every page of the International Narcotics Control Board
(1997).

It has brought one step closer the day when angry parents or relatively
lamenting the drug deaths of family members will realise their children
could still be alive and will sue decision-makers who eased illicit drug laws.

I've heard some law firms are already looking at litigation possibilities.

Not surprising. It's already happened with tobacco - and that's a legal
product.

Collis Parrett Bruce, ACT

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett