Territory Times _Australia_ 1/1/1997 - 31/12/2024
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1 Australia: PUB LTE: Addicted To InsanityFri, 10 Feb 2006
Source:Territory Times (Australia) Author:Fyffe, Robert Area:Australia Lines:59 Added:02/15/2006

As a person who smokes pot on a regular basis, and has done for around 30 years now. As a person who has spent most of that time working, paying tax, and generally contributing to my community.

I have sat, and smoked, with people from all sectors of society, (not just the junkies the government would have us believe are the only face of drug use). I have shared smoke with judges/magistrates, police officers, members of the legal fraternity, doctors, politicians and even some ordinary honest people. All of these people, like myself, were (and are), ordinary working, tax paying Australians. But our Government would have those who know little or nothing about drugs, other than alcohol, that we are all dangerous and desperate junkies, prone to psychotic outbursts. What a load of rubbish.

[continues 282 words]

2 Australia: PUB LTE: Alarm BellsFri, 10 Feb 2006
Source:Territory Times (Australia) Author:Meyerhoff, Gary Area:Australia Lines:52 Added:02/15/2006

Alarm bells should be ringing over the suggestion by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, Christopher Pyne, that mental health funding under a Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement should be tied to tougher marijuana laws.

There is simply not enough evidence linking marijuana consumption to mental illness. Mr Pyne is mistaken when he states that the link is "clearly proven".

The Australian-based researcher Louisa Degenhardt and two colleagues tested the hypothesis of a causal relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia by carefully examining the incidence of schizophrenia in Australia over a thirty-year period. The results, published in 2003, found that although the prevalence of marijuana use had increased markedly during that period, there was no evidence of a significant increase in the incidence of schizophrenia.

[continues 131 words]

3 Australia: PUB LTE: Emptying Our Prisons (2 Of 2)Fri, 29 Jul 2005
Source:Territory Times (Australia) Author:Heath, Stephen Area:Australia Lines:43 Added:07/29/2005

Dear Editor

Letter writer Scott White is definitely on the right track. Current public drug policy in both your country and mine brands anyone caught with an illegal substance as a 'drug-abuser'. This is as flawed logically as arresting all alcohol users and defining them as alcoholics. When our local jails and prison systems are clogged by court convicted casual users, overcrowding is inevitable.

Additionally, current policies mandate that even casual users and sellers of illicit drugs - most notably marijuana - be thrust into the criminal justice system. This uselessly ties up millions of tax dollars in a supposed attempt to reduce the use of certain drugs. In fact, we've learned such an approach will never significantly reduce use.

[continues 78 words]

4 Australia: PUB LTE: Emptying Our PrisonsFri, 22 Jul 2005
Source:Territory Times (Australia) Author:White, Scott Area:Australia Lines:34 Added:07/22/2005

Dear Editor

THE prisons are full, and the NT Labor Government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars jailing 10 people involved with NAP.

If prison numbers are increasing rapidly, could it be for their position on drugs in our society?

Sensible drug laws will stop prison overcrowding. The current policies are unable to stop drug misuse and the associated crime in our communities.

Prohibition needs to be debated openly by our politicians. Its repeal would reduce the prison population and help facilitate positive change in our communities.

People involved with NAP are being punished for how they think? NAPs "crimes" were non-violent direct-action protests. Just like the '70s. If people can be jailed for thought crimes, how many prisons need to be built?

Scott White

Stuart Park, Network Against Prohibition (NAP)

[end]

5 Australia: PUB LTE: Choice Of DrugsFri, 08 Jul 2005
Source:Territory Times (Australia) Author:White, Scott Area:Australia Lines:32 Added:07/12/2005

Dear Editor

The AFL is a beacon of common sense in a world gone drug crazy. They have defied the World Anti-doping Agency and the Liberal government bribe of a million dollars, with a humane response to personal and recreational drug use.

If it were just about cleaning up the games image, alcohol and tobacco would have been targeted as well. Instead this 'World' body and the Liberal Government are intent on invading peoples personal life and trying to moralise peoples right to choose what drug they want to use.

If the drug is not performance enhancing, and used sensibly, then people should be left alone, regardless of their position in society.

Scott White

Stuart Park

Network Against Prohibition (NAP)

[end]


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