Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Cian Manton

FIGHT LOOMS ON CANNABIS LAW CHANGE

THE State Government will begin formal moves today to decriminalise cannabis.

Under the Cannabis Control Bill, to be introduced into Parliament today, 
people growing two plants or possessing less than 30g of the drug for 
personal use will not be treated as criminals but instead get on-the-spot 
fines of up to $200.

The Opposition has vowed to block the legislation in Parliament and oppose 
it in the community.

Leader Colin Barnett challenged Premier Geoff Gallop yesterday to explain 
to WA parents why he supported legitimising a drug proved to cause harm.

Health Minister Bob Kucera said cannabis would remain illegal and all users 
would be penalised.

He denied that the Government was taking a soft stance on drugs, saying the 
laws included tougher thresholds for dealing and the introduction of 
regulations for smoking paraphernalia suppliers.

"We want to show quite clearly that although we don't believe that users 
should get a criminal record, we simply don't want them to smoke cannabis," 
Mr Kucera said.

Police still had the discretion to charge people caught with small amounts 
of cannabis. And people could opt for a lecture on the dangers of cannabis 
use instead of a fine.

Mr Barnett said Dr Gallop was sending out a message to children that 
cannabis was acceptable.

"This society does not need another widely used and legitimised drug. This 
will be a defining issue at the next election," he said.

Opposition drug abuse strategy spokesman Simon O'Brien said Labor members 
who were parents were gutless if they did not stand up against the laws.

"Cannabis is not a safe drug and it will do damage to the sort of people 
governments are meant to protect," he said. "It will harm people who don't 
have options in their lives, people who don't have role models, people 
without family."

Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation State president Jason Meotti said he 
was delighted that the Government had acted on one of the main 
recommendations of the community drug summit.

"The focus on the cannabis issue will be switched formally from minor users 
and on to the dealers," he said.

He called on politicians to view the legislation in the same bipartisan way 
that the drug summit was undertaken.

The foundation supported the Government's move to keep hydroponic 
cultivation as a criminal offence but questioned the failure to 
decriminalise smoking implements.

Mr Meotti hoped that with the stigma surrounding cannabis use removed, the 
Government would introduce an education and health awareness campaign for users.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth