PREMIER COLIN BARNETT TO INTRODUCE TOUGHER MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Mr Barnett says the Government will introduce legislation this week to
repeal WA's Cannabis Control Act of 2003. He will also seek to make
changes to the 1981 Misuse of Drugs Act and the Young Offenders Act of
1994, saying it will send a clear message that the Government does not
endorse illicit drug use.

Mr Barnett said the cannabis-related legislation was the first in a
series of steps the Government would take to send a clear anti-drugs
message to the community and toughen penalties for people who broke
the law through drug-related offences.

"The Liberal-National Government is committed to tackling both the
demand and supply sides of the illicit drug problem through strong law
enforcement policies, education and rehabilitation," the Premier said.

"Cannabis is not a harmless or soft drug. Research continues to show
that cannabis can lead to a host of health and mental health problems
including schizophrenia, and can be a gateway to harder drugs.

"The Government believes a tougher approach against drugs is necessary
to send a clear message not to use drugs, but we also recognise the
existence of a criminal record has a serious impact on a person's
future employment prospects. At present, once a conviction is
recorded, it remains on a person's criminal record for at least 10
years.

"Under the Government's proposed laws, a person convicted of minor
cannabis possession offences will be able to apply to have a
conviction spent after three years, provided they are not convicted of
further offences during that period.

"This approach ensures minor drug offenders who demonstrate they are
prepared to take responsibility and rehabilitate themselves are given
an opportunity to turn their lives around."

The new cannabis-related laws will:

. Prosecute those in possession of more than 10g of cannabis. This is
a reduction from the previous Labor government's stance, which saw
those in possession of more than 30g prosecuted.

. See subsequent offences for possession being prosecuted as criminal
offences.

Prosecute people for cultivating cannabis plants. Under the previous
Labor government's regime, people could grow two cannabis plants per
person, per household without facing criminal charges.

. make it illegal for cannabis smoking implements to be sold to
anyone, including adults. Currently it is only an offence to sell
these implements to children

. Increase fines for the sale of smoking implements. The new laws
will allow for fines of up to $5000 for sale to an adult and up to
$10,000 for sale to a minor. Bodies corporate will be fined equivalent
to five times these amounts.

The Government will also replace the Cannabis Infringement Notice
scheme (CIN) with the Cannabis Intervention Requirement Scheme (CIRS).

"The CIRS has a primary focus on education and takes a firm, yet
compassionate, approach to people found to be in possession of less
than 10 grams of cannabis," Mr Barnett said.

"Under the new scheme, anyone caught will have no option but to attend
a Cannabis Intervention education session within 28 days of the
offence or face prosecution through the courts.

"Unlike the soft system we have inherited where people can be issued
with infringement notices ad nauseam, juveniles will only be eligible
for two notices and adults for one.

"After that they will be prosecuted for further offences."

A person will not be eligible for a CIRS if they are caught
cultivating or in possession of plants.

The new CIRS sessions will differ significantly from the current CIN
scheme because:

. offenders will not have the option of just paying the fine and
avoiding the education session

. if a person fails to attend the session they will be
prosecuted.

This year, under the soft system the Liberal-National Government
inherited from Labor, only five per cent of offenders actually
participated in an education session.

The Premier said further anti-drug legislation would be introduced in
coming months.

"The next steps will be to amend legislation to enable courts to
impose a harsher sentence on dealers who sell or supply illicit drugs
to children, irrespective of the location of the sale or supply," he
said.

"Further amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 will provide
offences for exposing children to harm or to the danger of serious
harm from the manufacture of illegal drugs, such as amphetamines, or
the unlawful cultivation of illegal hydroponically-grown plants.

"The Government will also move to ban the sale of drug paraphernalia,
including cocaine kits."

The repeal of the Cannabis Control Act will reinstate the primary
responsibility for cannabis cautioning under the Misuse of Drugs Act
1981.

With the repeal of the Act, all registered Cannabis Infringement
notices will be deemed 'paid' after they have been registered with the
Fines Enforcement Registry for 12 months. This will allow police to
destroy their cannabis stockpile which is retained for evidentiary
purposes.