Page 3699 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 15 October 1991
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My dissenting report starts by saying:
While I accept that the time was appropriate for the re-examination of the approach to problems associated with Marijuana I am unable to endorse all the recommendations of the Committee's Report.
The ACT's current policy of harm minimisation is one I support and I am of the opinion reviews must be ongoing to assess the success of such a strategy.
I think that is very important. I continue:
In the re-examination of the approach to problems associated with Marijuana it must be emphasised that illegal drug profiteers must always receive the full force of the law.
This report has recommended a strengthening in relation to those laws. As I said, my comments in this dissenting report relate only to the personal use of marijuana, and I have already made comment in relation to specific services for young people and women. I also state in my dissenting report:
The Committee's Report details the current laws within each of the Australian States and while Marijuana is a prohibited substance in each of the States, a position I endorse, I am unconvinced that cannabis consumption should be treated as a criminal offence.
The Committee's Report, I believe, should have endorsed the South Australian approach, one which cannot be described as decriminalisation however, one that does remove some of the criminal stigma. In South Australia a cannabis infringement notice system for possession, cultivation or use of small amounts by adults came into effect in April 1987.
On pages 33 and 34 of the committee's report the South Australian legislation is appropriately referred to and I would suggest that all members refer to that particular section of the report. I go on to say:
On page 38 of the Committee's Report it states that minor cannabis offences have continued to rise under the infringement notice system. I remain unconvinced however, that this in any way reflects the infringement notice system.
I believe that more emphasis must be placed on drug education, especially for young people. Drug education programs relating to both licit and illicit drugs must receive greater emphasis at both primary and secondary schools. I conclude by saying:
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