DECRIMINALISATION AN OPTION IN AN UNWINNABLE WAR

THE new head of the Australian Lawyers Alliance says the country's
policy on illicit drugs has failed and Australia should consider
decriminalisation, even for drugs such as heroin and crystal
methamphetamine.

Greg Barns, a criminal barrister and former chairman of the Australian
Republic Movement, said Australian Crime Commission figures released
this week showed "an abject failure of prohibition".

Mr Barns took over today as national president of the Australian Lawyers
Alliance, which promotes individual rights in the criminal justice system.
Advertisement: Story continues below

His comments echo a report published on June 2 by the Global
Commission on Drugs, which includes former Secretary-General of the
United Nations Kofi Annan; the former presidents of Brazil, Colombia,
and Mexico; and former US Secretary of State George Shultz.

The report recommends to: "End the criminalisation, marginalisation
and stigmatisation of people who use drugs but who do no harm to
others...Encourage experimentation by governments with models of legal
regulation of drugs to undermine the power of organised crime and
safeguard the health and security of their citizens."

Mr Barns said drug users should be treated by the health system, with
sanctions for non-compliance. He said the war on drugs could never be
won. "Why don't we at least have the debate?"

http://globalcommissionondrugs.org