DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON NEW LAWS BEGINS TODAY

State Parliament has begun debating new cannabis legislation, which gives
police the discretion to issue infringement notices to people found with no
more than 30 grams of cannabis, or two plants not hydroponically grown.

Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has warned there will be more suicides, if
the government's Cannabis Control Bill, becomes law.

Mr Barnett says there's ample evidence linking cannabis to mental health
problems and suicides. "What are you going to say, Minister for Health, to
the next parents who lose a kid through suicide through cannabis use, what
are you going to say to them, a little bit's ok, are you going to front up
to them, because there've been many many parents and families that have had
the agony of the loss of a son or daughter through suicide related to
cannabis."

Health Minister Bob Kucera says their argument is absolute nonsense. "And
the one thing that's proved in this house yesterday that the only dope in
this house was sitting opposite me".

Mr Kucera says he has faith that police will charge drug dealers, with
dealing, even if they're found with just one gram of cannabis.

Shadow Police Minister Matt Birney says because it's up to the discretion
of police, dealers found in possession of less than 30 grams, could escape
with only infringement notices as a penalty: "Will the Minister now admit
that the only dope in this place is in fact sitting over there?"

South-west Liberal MPs say the region is particularly at risk because of
the easy availability of the drug. The government has rejected criticism of
the changes saying it will alleviate the burden on the criminal justice
system created by the present laws.

Liam Bartlett was joined by Simon Lenton, Senior Research Fellow with the
National Drug Research Institute and John Barich, Convenor, Coalition
Against Drugs. Followed by Dr Joe Santamaria, who has grave fears for the
mental well-being of young West Australians if cannabis laws are liberalised.

The Melbourne-based Community Health Expert says if penalties are reduced a
message, virtually condoning cannabis use, is sent to young people: "All
the evidence shows that if you liberalise the laws, just like with alcohol
and tobacco you actually increase the size of the population using the
substance".

Unemployment and social decay are listed by Dr Santamaria as the
by-products of the mental illness and drug induced psychosis caused by
marijuana use.

Simon Lenton, John Barich and Dr Joe Santamaria As heard on the Statewide
Morning Program. http://www.abc.net.au/wa/stories/s829346.htm