Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 Source: Advertiser, The (Australia) Copyright: 2000 The Advertiser Contact: http://www.advertiser.com.au/ Author: Jamnes Danenberg, Co-convenor, HEMP SA inc Cited: HEMP SA: http://www.hemp.on.net.au/ TOUGHER LAWS WON'T HELP It is Police Commissioner Mal Hyde who sends the wrong messages on Cannabis (Advertiser 25/10/00). At the SA Police's own Drug Conference last year, Mr Hyde himself spoke of the need to "look beyond the square" in terms of innovative solutions to drug -related problems. Yesterday he backtracked, claiming that SA's Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) scheme, recently recommended for nationwide adoption by the respected National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), should instead be scrapped, and SA should again start convicting and jailing people for growing their own Cannabis. Mr Hyde's support for a zero tolerance "solution" fly in the face of all of the research done in the last five years . The 1998 Social Impacts study comparing SA & WA laws, showed our on-the-spot fine system for up to 10 plants was better in every respect than the total prohibition Mr Hyde advocated. In SA, less people used Cannabis across all age groups, far less people used in vehicles, the system was fairer, had less negative consequences and was more cost effective. Supported by the Attorney General's department , the Judiciary, the DPP, the NCA and most Police, SA's laws have provided the model for the ACT and Northern Territory's laws and are now being considered by the New Zealand government . Mr Hyde portrayed the CEN scheme as being "no disincentive" to cottage industry, yet admits over 14,000 plants have been seized in recent months in large scale plantations, despite the nation's toughest laws for large scale cannabis cultivation of up to 30 years jail and million dollar fines! His stated opposition to homegrowing will have organised crime rubbing their hands in glee, at the prospect of homegrowers being forced out of production. No doubt they will be looking to expand their control by introducing Cannabis users to other more dangerous and profitable drugs. Meanwhile, concerned parents and Cannabis users themselves are aghast at the prospect of the "Al Capones" regaining their market dominance through prohibition with its attendent crime, corruption and violence, just as they did in America during the 1930's. What Mr Hyde must acknowlege is that many of the 40% of Australian adults who have tried Cannabis will continue to use it, despite the laws; "tougher" laws just make the situation worse. With over 36,000 criminal convictions in SA alone, for minor cannabis offences since the CEN scheme began , it is clear that we cannot arrest our way out of this mess. Cannabis use by adults should be legal, regulated and taxed by governments in the same way as alcohol, not controlled by organised crime. Jamnes Danenberg, Co-convenor, HEMP SA inc - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake