Subject: Australia: Queensland: Dope Smoking To Be Decriminalised



Pubdate: Tue, 02 Nov 1999



Source: Age, The (Australia)



Author: Mary-Anne Toy Health Editor





DOPE SMOKING TO BE DECRIMINALISED



The Health Minister, Mr John Thwaites, said yesterday the Government

would decriminalise marijuana for personal use in small quantities.

However, safe injecting houses and primary care facilities for drug

users would be the Government's priority.



"Our policy that we took to the election supports decriminalisation.

However, it is not part of our priorities for immediate

implementation," Mr Thwaites said.



"We believe because of deaths from heroin overdose that the Government

has to address that first."



The Labor's drug policy has a strong harm minimisation and prevention

focus. It comprises measures to prevent drug abuse at schools,

preventing deaths from overdose including safe injecting trial,

emphasising treatment and rehabilitation for users including

decriminalising use and possession of small amounts of marijuana and

improved policing of the drug trade.



The policy would also ban the smoking of marijuana in public, which

would be subject to a fine of up to $100.



The announcement was welcomed by Professor David Penington, who headed

the Kennett Government's Drug Advisory Council, which recommended

decriminalisation of marijuana.



A spokesman for Victoria Police said yesterday drugs policy was a

decision for the State Government and the police's role was to enforce

the law, whatever it was.