OPTIONS FOR OFFENDERS

YOUR editorial (Confused message in drug plan, 8/9) is wrong in saying that
under the proposed amendment to the Cannabis Control Bill cannabis users
will be allowed three mistakes before they will face the consequences of
their actions.

Under the Bill, whenever a person is caught by police for possession of 30g
cannabis or two cannabis plants for personal use they will be given an
infringement notice.

This will require them to pay a fine of between $100 and $200 or attend a
treatment service for cannabis education within 28 days.

Under the proposed amendment, cannabis users caught for the third time in
three years will not get the option of paying a fine. They will have to
complete the education session or face a criminal charge.

Repeat offenders, who are often dependent on the drug, are more likely to
respond to education and contact with a treatment service than they are to
a criminal conviction.

Research shows that 87 per cent of people given a criminal conviction for
cannabis use say their use is not affected.

SIMON LENTON,

Senior Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Shenton Park