Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 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: Steve Butler CANNABIS TURN MISGUIDED, SAYS DRUG RESEARCHER A MAJOR State Government turnaround on controversial new cannabis laws would be misguided and wrong, according to a senior National Drug Research Institute researcher. Health Minister Jim McGinty's parliamentary secretary Sue Ellery said last Friday the Government was considering an Opposition amendment to restrict the number of cannabis infringement notices a person could receive before conviction. She admitted it would be a major policy shift. The amendment, moved by former attorney-general Peter Foss, would cap the number of notices to two in 10 years. The Opposition has consistently claimed the Bill showed the Government was soft on drugs. Ms Ellery said yesterday she was still in discussion with other parties in relation to the policy change and was likely to make a decision when Parliament resumed on September 9. Greens (WA) drugs policy spokeswoman Chrissy Sharp said she was fighting to dissuade the Government from criminalising recurrent cannabis use by allowing the amendment. It would have no deterrent effect and it would be more appropriate to offer an intervention program. Institute senior researcher Simon Lenton said a cap would simply take the law back to trying to use criminal law to deter cannabis use - a ploy which had failed in the past. Dr Lenton said research had shown only 7 per cent of convicted cannabis users were detected again in 10 years and 87 per cent who were given a criminal conviction said it did not affect their use. "Importantly, the threat of a criminal conviction can stop people seeking treatment," he said. "Under the Goverment's Cannabis Control Bill even repeat offenders have the option to choose education over another fine. "We know giving them a criminal conviction is unlikely to affect their cannabis use. But hearing about the harms associated with cannabis, having an oppportunity to reflect on their own use and being exposed to options for treatment are just the things that make a difference. "The amendment, by maintaining the threat of criminal conviction, will be a barrier to treatment and give a confusing message to cannabis users and the community generally." Opposition drug abuse strategy spokesman Simon O'Brien said last week the Government turnaround was an important breakthrough on terrible new proposals which relaxed laws governing the use of cannabis. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh