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Call For Uniform Marijuana Laws
The Australian | 05/15/06

A single nationwide set of laws to combat the trafficking and use of cannabis could be created under a commonwealth crackdown that treats marijuana as being as dangerous as heroin.

The federal Government wants the states and territories to abandon their varied laws on cannabis, which have decriminalised personal use in some states, in favour of tough uniform national laws.

The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy also endorsed a national strategy yesterday on alcohol abuse, and said it would develop a plan over the next six months to fight the growing use of amphetamines and other dangerous stimulants.

Flanked by state and territory ministers in Perth, federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health Christopher Pyne said the national strategy on cannabis would target production, supply and use, and focus on reducing public acceptability of the drug.

"The council has decided there should be a consistent approach to offences," he said.

Mr Pyne said said the Government would like tougher cannabis laws -- including revisiting the decriminalisation of personal use -- but it could not force the territories and states to change their legislation.

"The commonwealth has a very clear view and it is up to each state to visit the subject of their offences and penalties," Mr Pyne said.

"I don't think any state right now has a perfect set of cannabis laws that send the message that the commonwealth thinks should be sent to the community.

"We have to treat it as an illicit drug as dangerous as heroin, amphetamines or cocaine."

With other ministers endorsing his comments, NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos said the states had agreed to work for consistency among the jurisdictions in relation to the treatment of drugs.

"How we manage it obviously varies ... but the reference point we have agreed upon is a uniform criminal code," he said.

Mr Pyne, whose home state of South Australia has some of the nation's more lenient laws on cannabis, said the ministers had also agreed to get tough on amphetamine abuse.

"To make sure all the states, territories and the commonwealth are working closely, that our law-enforcement agencies are working closely," he said.

In another move, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy unveiled a national campaign to raise awareness about the crime of drink spiking.

The council agreed to distribute information posters and cards to police, the liquor industry and hospital emergency departments.

Victorian Police Minister Tim Holding said that raising public awareness about drink spiking was an important initiative.

"We know drink spiking is a crime that is significantly under-reported," Mr Holding said after the meeting.

"We do know there is more work that needs to be done in raising awareness of this issue."

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Buzzby

Why? The other drugs mentioned have a high level of toxicity, serious adverse physical and mental effects, and a obvious potential for creating addiction. Marijuana is entirely different.

At least the Australian central government is not intending to bully their states into pursuing their anti-marijuana intentions.

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