HEAVY UPPER HOUSE LOAD DELAYS NEW DRUG LAWS

THE State Government's contentious cannabis legislation will come into
force about six months after its passage through the Legislative Council.

Debate on the Bill continued in the Upper House last week, but it will now
not be passed until after Parliament's six-week winter recess.

Labor Upper House leader Kim Chance said he was disappointed that the
legislation, which is still in the second reading stage, had not been
completed before the break.

Mr Chance said it had been delayed because the Council had to deal with
several Treasury Bills before the end of the financial year tomorrow and
other legislation dealing with court sentencing and the new Crime and
Corruption Commission had been urgent.

He said the cannabis legislation would be given high priority when
Parliament resumed in August.

The Liberal Party is opposed to the legislation but it is expected to get
through the Upper House with the support of the Greens.

WA will join South Australia, Northern Territory and Australian Capital
Territory as the only jurisdictions to have softened cannabis laws and
introduced fines for people caught with small amounts of the drug.

The WA Police Service will have to change its operating rules and
procedures before it can enforce the new law and says that will take about
six months.

Acting Sgt Kevin Tinley, of the alcohol and drug coordination unit, said
police would make savings with the introduction of the legislation.

Money and other resources would be saved because less time would be spent
by police in courts on cannabis-related matters, not as much cannabis
material would need to be analysed for court cases and fewer court briefs
would have to be prepared.

"Although it is difficult to quantify the extent of savings, there will be
benefits arising from the introduction of the cannabis infringement
system," Sgt Tinley said.

"An evaluation of the system will be conducted in due course, to more
accurately determine the extent of these savings."

Former health minister Bob Kucera said the Government would launch the
first phase of its $430,000 cannabis education campaign soon.

It was long overdue and necessary, particularly given the amount of
misinformation and confusion about the new law.

Drug and Alcohol Office director of prevention Gary Kirby said the first
phase of the campaign aimed to educate young people and users, in
particular, about the harm associated with cannabis.

That phase is expected to cost $180,000, will run for about one month and
will involve advertising in the media, workshops, education materials and
internet resources.

The second phase, which will cost about the same, will begin in about six
months or when the law takes effect.

Mr Kirby said it would explain how the legislation worked and would provide
information on where users could get treatment.

Mr Kucera said that overall, the campaign aimed to persuade those at risk
not to start using cannabis and those already using the drug to consider
quitting and to seek support services.