dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse

This website has run out of funding so feel free to contribute if you can afford it (see footer)

Author Topic: Decriminalisation Article  (Read 678 times)

andrew

  • Guest
Decriminalisation Article
« on: December 23, 2014, 06:34:22 AM »
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/buying-drugs-online-nsw-lawyers-radical-proposal-to-decriminalise-drugs-20141222-12c011.html

A teenager on Sydney's northern beaches orders cocaine online and has it posted to their front door. It is just one of the signs that existing drug laws have "substantially failed", according to top criminal barristers in NSW.

The NSW Bar Association's criminal law committee, chaired by Sydney barrister Stephen Odgers SC, has put forward a "radical proposal" to replace the black market for drugs with a highly-regulated system of legal availability.

The committee says existing laws aimed at curbing illicit drug use and supply are not working and are resulting in "considerable" harm including an unregulated black market, drug overdoses, and crimes such as prostitution and armed robbery that are committed to pay for drugs.

It says its preliminary view, subject to further research and consultation, is that the current prohibitionist approach to drugs should be abandoned and replaced with a tightly-regulated system where drugs are legally available.

The system might involve licensing controls on the production and supply of drugs, along with price regulation and comprehensive services for treating drug addiction. A ban on private trafficking, supply to children and advertising was also flagged by the committee.

The committee is made up of heavy-hitters who both prosecute and defend people accused of drug-related crimes, including former Director of Public Prosecutions Nick Cowdery QC, and highly respected silks Tim Game, John Stratton, and Gaby Bashir.

It wants the community to engage in an informed debate about drug law reform, as the state government comes under increasing pressure to convene a drug summit to tackle the issues. The Bar Association will also hold a conference on drug law reform on May 29.

The committee says it has seen the harm caused by the use of illicit drugs, but "we have also seen the harm that is caused by the current prohibitionist model with its heavy reliance on the criminal law to deter drug use".

It says the law has been "largely ineffective" at preventing the use or availability of illicit drugs and is "is now struggling to keep pace with synthetic drugs, the internet drug trade and the illicit use of pharmaceutical drugs".

The paper cites a 2010 study showing that almost 15 per cent of Australians over 14 had used illicit drugs in the last year, and 27.5 per cent of those aged between 20 and 29. Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit drug in the country, followed by ecstasy, while the use of heroin and cocaine was still relatively low.

Alcohol, meanwhile, is the most widely used lawful drug in Australia. The committee said the total social costs arising from the frequent use of alcohol was "comparable" to the frequent use of illicit drugs, while the total social costs arising from the frequent use of tobacco "substantially outweigh" those associated with illicit drugs.

The views expressed in the discussion paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bar Association as a whole, which has yet to form a view on the issue.

The call for a drug summit comes as the NSW government funds three trials for the medical use of cannabis.

[end]
« Last Edit: December 24, 2014, 05:07:39 PM by andrew »
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
0 Replies
660 Views
Last post May 25, 2015, 11:25:17 PM
by andrew
4 Replies
10000 Views
Last post January 16, 2018, 07:53:52 AM
by Chip
3 Replies
7814 Views
Last post November 24, 2015, 07:40:23 PM
by sk8phaze
4 Replies
6858 Views
Last post November 15, 2015, 12:16:48 PM
by corlene
0 Replies
4615 Views
Last post December 05, 2015, 04:50:03 PM
by makita
4 Replies
6863 Views
Last post June 19, 2017, 05:15:00 PM
by OpiXPO
5 Replies
10850 Views
Last post July 24, 2018, 12:32:51 PM
by Chip
1 Replies
5558 Views
Last post March 01, 2018, 04:34:51 AM
by nurse_K
0 Replies
3970 Views
Last post January 21, 2019, 12:05:40 AM
by MoeMentim
0 Replies
1240 Views
Last post May 20, 2023, 12:44:41 AM
by Chip


dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse





TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In no event will d&u or any person involved in creating, producing, or distributing site information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use d&u. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless d&u, its domain founders, sponsors, maintainers, server administrators, volunteers and contributors from and against all liability, claims, damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from the use of any part of the d&u site.


TO USE THIS WEBSITE YOU MUST AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOVE


Founded December 2014
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal