WESTERN AUSTRALIA EASES RULES ON CANNABIS

CANBERRA - Western Australia has become the second state to
decriminalise cannabis in a bid to reduce the police and courts
workload and divert more users to counselling.

Possession of small amounts of cannabis is already decriminalised in
South Australia, and in the Northern Territory and the Australian
Capital Territory - both self-governing, but still subject to federal
Parliament.

The new WA laws, which came into effect yesterday, are part of a
growing trend to ease prosecutions for cannabis possession, which make
up by far the largest drug caseload for Australia's law agencies.

Although no Government has accepted arguments for the legalisation of
the drug, numerous reports and studies have recommended its removal
from criminal sanctions. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland
still treat cannabis possession as a criminal offence, but give police
wide discretion.

The new WA laws provide for fines of up to A$150 ($170) and compulsory
drug education classes for people caught with up to 30g of cannabis,
or a A$200 fine for growing two plants.

As in South Australia, the far more potent hydroponically grown plants
remain illegal, and dealing is still a criminal offence. In SA, fines
of up to A$150 may be imposed on people caught with less than 100g
grams or one non-hydroponically grown.

The Liberal Opposition has condemned the new laws and has promised to
repeal them when it is returned to power.