Future Darwin Mayor slam dunks drug prohibition

Stuart Highway, the Network Against Prohibition’s candidate for Lord Mayor of the City of Darwin has slam dunked drug prohibition during an interview on Territory Radio - 104.1 Top Fm.

Speaking yesterday to ex-Country Liberal Party Minister Daryl Manzie, Highway said that if elected as Lord Mayor he would approach the Northern Territory Government about the failure of their current zero tolerance drug policy.

Highway said “most of the drug related harm in the community is because of prohibition of those drugs rather than because of the drugs themselves.”

“The authorities spend so much time and resources and money trying to stop people ingesting substances which people want to ingest, people enjoy using drugs and ultimately it is their decision and the authorities, the State should not be interfering in people’s private lives, as long as those people are informed.”

The Network Against Prohibition will launch their campaign to seize control of the Darwin City Council at their 17th Community Smoke-in for Human Rights at 12 noon on Saturday the 8th of May in Darwin’s Raintree Park. The smoke-in, a regular drug law reform event, will feature live music, a free barbecue and the standard giant joint.

Darwin City Council have agreed to provide a permit for the event, despite threatening to withhold permits for future NAP events.

For more information contact the NAP team on 0415 16 2525 or see http://www.napnt.org

You can view the entire transcript of Highway’s interview at http://www.napnt.org/pages/vote1stuart.html