Stronger Cannabis Laws in WA
The Western Australian parliament last year passed laws to reduce cannabis use.
The legislation repealed the previous Cannabis Control Act.
The cultivation of cannabis plants will be a criminal offence.
The sale of smoking paraphernalia such as pipes and bongs has heavily increased penalties.
Possession limits have been reduced from 30 grams to 10 grams.
W.A. police claim cannabis is a stepping stone to other drug use.
Police also have disclosed that cannabis supply is strongly linked to organized crime and gang activity.
(Source: The Geraldton Guardian, W.A., 29 October 2010)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
This move should be copied by other states and territories to reduce cannabis use.
Together with recent scientific studies linking cannabis use to psychosis and schizophrenia reducing the number of cannabis users will have long term effects for users and the wider community.
Cannabis ruins lives and costs the community so governments have an incentive to reduce the number of users.
Current cannabis users must be diverted into effective court supervised early intervention drug rehabilitation that leads to a drug free life.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
5/2011
