Pubdate: Thu, 05 Oct 2006
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

CANNABIS LAWS OVERHAUL

Fines for people caught smoking, selling or cultivating cannabis will 
increase, in some cases triple, from December.

Attorney-General Michael Atkinson yesterday announced the increase in 
cannabis related fines.

Mr Atkinson says the review of legislation will deliver the first 
increase in fines in more than 20 years.

The fine for the ground cultivation of one cannabis plant will jump 
from $150 to $300 on December 3.

The current $50 fine for possessing less than 25g of cannabis or less 
than 5g of cannabis resin, smoking or consuming cannabis or cannabis 
resin or possessing cannabis using equipment, will triple to $150.

The $150 fine for possessing 25g to 100g of cannabis or 5 to 20g of 
cannabis resin will double to $300.

"The Controlled Substances Act was introduced in 1984 and fines have 
remained unchanged since 1985," Mr Atkinson said.

"This means the current fees do not reflect their original intent to 
prohibit the illegal use of cannabis.

"What we are announcing today will see some fines double and others 
treble when the new fees come into effect on December 3, 2006."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman