CANNABIS FINES TO BOOST COFFERS

THE State Government could collect more than $1 million a year in fines
from small-time cannabis users under proposed drug reforms.

Experts say the money should be put back into early drug prevention measures.

Under the Government's response to August's Community Drug Summit, people
possessing up to 25g of cannabis or growing two plants at home face a fine
instead of a criminal conviction.

If the Government matches the $50-$150 fines set in South Australia for
first-time offences, and rates of cannabis use remain constant, it would
collect more than $1 million, based on last year's arrests.

Simon Lenton, research fellow at Curtin University's National Drug Research
Institute, said the Government's decision to impose civil rather than
criminal penalties on small-time users meant it was obliged to ensure the
State had education and treatment programs that were properly funded.

"Once you make that policy shift, then it is likely that more people will
seek information or look for help . . . because you have removed the
criminal stigma," he said.

"So let's put that money into prevention programs."

Health Minister Bob Kucera said controversy over other initiatives had led
to already-funded programs designed to deter people from drug abuse being
overlooked.

These included a $7 million-a-year behaviour management and discipline
strategy targeting at-risk lower high school students and a $1 million
program to develop youth-oriented cultural venues and public spaces.

Mr Kucera said the exact fines still had to be decided, but the real
financial benefit from cannabis reform would come from keeping small-time
users out of the court system.

"A civil penalty doesn't have to mean $500 (fines). A civil penalty can
equally mean that you become part of a community program," he said.

Greens (WA) MLC Christine Sharp said that many small-time cannabis users in
South Australia ended up in court anyway because they could not pay the fines.