Subj: Australia: Praise For Labor Drugs Policy



Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 1999



Source: West Australian (Australia)



Author: Kristen Watts





PRAISE FOR LABOR DRUGS POLICY



ACADEMICS, drug law reformers and social workers have applauded the

State Labor Party for making a commitment to introduce drug harm

minimisation strategies, including a heroin trial.



There was unanimous jupport for the motion to introduce such measures

at the Labor Party conference on Sunday.



Yesterday, Wendy Loxley of the National Centre for Research into the

Prevention of Drug Abuse said information about the controversial

heroin trials indicated that the most important need was for more research.



She said Labor policy, also agreed on at the weekend conference, to

decriminalise the possession of 100g of cannabis on private property

and allow the cultivation of up to five plants for personal use, was a

step in the right direction.



"I think we would support any motion which may keep marijuana users

out of the criminal system," she said.



Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Jason Meotti also

welcomed the Labor move.



"They have shown they are prepared to look beyond the present system

which has clearly failed," he said.



But the Minister responsible for the drug abuse strategy, Rhonda

Parker, said Labor had adopted a defeatist policy.



She said the decriminalisation of cannabis in South Australia had had

disastrous results.



Crime had not decreased and people were growing the drug and sending

it to other States.