Going to pot – but are laws more harmful?

Zero tolerance; zero sense

The Network Against Prohibition says zero-tolerance approaches to drugs are doomed and a waste of time.

The draconian “Drug House Legislation” introduced by the Martin Labor Government was criticised widely by such groups as the Council for Civil Liberties, and angered local drug-users so much, they formed NAP.

Its members say that first and foremost, they are human rights activists and as such, their principal cause is opposition to the war on drugs.

“‘Prohibition’’’ is the operative word,’’ says Mickey Barry, a former school teacher.

“History shows that it has never worked with anything. For that reason zero tolerance is similarly flawed.

“The just-say-no policy in our education system is ridiculous, as is the attitude of sporting administrations to cocaine-sniffing rugby league players and ecstasy-dropping Australian footballers.

“Of course, the people saying ‘drugs should be banned’ don’t mind the occasional beer and tipple of chardonnay or red wine. The only difference between these drugs, is that the one that’s legal is worse for them, and it’s a depressant as well.

“It’s reprehensible that drug-use is regarded as a crime and not a medical issue.

“But there are all sorts of agendas at play and the spiral of more cops, more prisons and a bloating criminal justice system will see mainstream society continue to remain at the mercy of those now in power.

“All around the world, academics and people who know better are calling for the
repeal of drug laws to free up police to fight real crime, and to slow incarceration rates.

“Prisons in the US are bulging with more than two million people. That country is a human rights disaster and Australia is going the same way.

“Darwin is just one outpost.’’

Six reasons drugs should be legalised

1) The illegal drug trade would be taken out of the hands of criminals and corrupt police;
2) The number of fatal overdoses would fall to almost zero, as purity and supply of substances such as heroin become regulated;
3) Just as tobacco and alcohol are taxed, so the money raised by the taxing of illicit substances would be spent on education and rehabilitation programs;
4) Property crime would fall dramatically;
5) Third World economies would be rejuvenated by trade in such things as cocoa and opium – the plants that produce cocaine and heroin; and
6) Resulting medical benefits would mean “clean”, non-toxic pain-killers available over the counter.

The good oil

1) Just as excessive amounts of alcohol can turn a minority of drinkers violent, so the ingestion of some illicit drugs are a problem for a small group of users.
2) Contrary to media hype, most illicit drugs do not debilitate the human system and are not depressants, like alcohol.
3) Three per cent of Australians are addicted to illicit drugs and that number is many times greater for “party” or recreational users. Fewer than one per cent have a problem, yet these are the people demonised and most often portrayed by the media as being typical of all drug-addicts or “junkies”.
4) Rehabilitation works. Statistics show that with proper and workable programs set in place by the medical profession, addicts can “go clean”.
5) Drugs affect different people in different ways, which is why a more constructive and positive approach to education is essential. Just-say-no is as good as challenging young people to experiment simply because it is taboo.

More information at www.napnt.org

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Saturday 26th June 2004
Source: Top End Review
Author: Rob Inder-Smith
Copyright: Top End Review 2004
Email: topendreview@iprimus.com.au