Pubdate: Fri, 30 Nov 2001
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Daniel Clery

CANNABIS FINES TO BOOST COFFERS

THE State Government could collect more than $1 million a year in fines 
from small-time cannabis users under proposed drug reforms.

Experts say the money should be put back into early drug prevention measures.

Under the Government's response to August's Community Drug Summit, people 
possessing up to 25g of cannabis or growing two plants at home face a fine 
instead of a criminal conviction.

If the Government matches the $50-$150 fines set in South Australia for 
first-time offences, and rates of cannabis use remain constant, it would 
collect more than $1 million, based on last year's arrests.

Simon Lenton, research fellow at Curtin University's National Drug Research 
Institute, said the Government's decision to impose civil rather than 
criminal penalties on small-time users meant it was obliged to ensure the 
State had education and treatment programs that were properly funded.

"Once you make that policy shift, then it is likely that more people will 
seek information or look for help . . . because you have removed the 
criminal stigma," he said.

"So let's put that money into prevention programs."

Health Minister Bob Kucera said controversy over other initiatives had led 
to already-funded programs designed to deter people from drug abuse being 
overlooked.

These included a $7 million-a-year behaviour management and discipline 
strategy targeting at-risk lower high school students and a $1 million 
program to develop youth-oriented cultural venues and public spaces.

Mr Kucera said the exact fines still had to be decided, but the real 
financial benefit from cannabis reform would come from keeping small-time 
users out of the court system.

"A civil penalty doesn't have to mean $500 (fines). A civil penalty can 
equally mean that you become part of a community program," he said.

Greens (WA) MLC Christine Sharp said that many small-time cannabis users in 
South Australia ended up in court anyway because they could not pay the fines.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart