LAW ON DEALING NOT AFFECTED - KUCERA

The State Government had faith in the police service's ability to determine
the difference between a cannabis dealer and a personal user, Health
Minister Bob Kucera told the Legislative Assembly yesterday.

The Opposition continued its attack on the proposed changes to cannabis
laws, asking Mr Kucera during question time to concede that the legislation
was open to abuse by drug dealers.

Under the proposed laws, people who grow two non-hydroponic plants or
possess less than 30g of cannabis for personal use would not be treated as
criminals.

Shadow police minister Matt Birney said there was no section in the Bill to
ensure that people caught selling cannabis within the proposed 30g limit
were charged with dealing.

It was entirely at the discretion of police.

Mr Kucera said drug dealers would be treated as such, regardless of the
quantity.

"If you have one single gram of cannabis on you that is prepared by you to
give, supply or sell to anybody else, you are a dealer. It does not matter
what the amount," he said.

"I have got enough faith in the police officers of this State to know they
can use their discretion properly."

Mr Kucera accused the Opposition of running a misinformation campaign by
saying that the Government's proposed laws would allow people to possess or
cultivate cannabis.

It would remain illegal and the option to take criminal sanctions against
anybody was always there for police, he said.

Opposition Leader Colin Barnett said Mr Kucera had claimed the Bill was
aimed at protecting children who might make a mistake and experiment with
cannabis but the legislation did not apply to juveniles. It also allowed
for multiple offences.

On Tuesday, Mr Barnett said the changes would take away the moral authority
of parents to bring up their children drug free.

Yesterday, Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders wrote to Premier
Geoff Gallop, calling for MPs to be given a conscience vote on the Bill,
which he described as a tragedy.

Bishop Saunders said in the letter that to decriminalise cannabis would be
to normalise the use of the drug and give it tacit approval.

He said Dr Gallop should instead increase police resources to deal with the
problem.

The legislation represented little understanding of the damage cannabis did
to the social fabric of the community, he said.