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Australia: Pot heads into heroin, ecstasy and cocaine territory Sarah Vogler Brisbane Courier Mail Saturday 16 Apr 2016 Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath is expected to roll out new legislation as early as August in a bid to enact the recommendations of Michael Byrne QC’s Commission of Inquiry into Organised Crime. Under the changes, drugs such as cannabis, morphine and ketamine will be considered the same as heroin, ecstasy and cocaine under a plan to scrap the current drug schedule and reclassify all drugs as dangerous. All drugs will attract the current penalties for schedule 1 substances such as heroin under the Drugs Misuse Act meaning criminals caught trafficking, producing or supplying cannabis could be sentenced to an extra five years in prison with the maximum sentence increasing from 20 to 25 years. Sentencing will still be dependant on the quantities of the drugs involved and the circumstances of the offence. Extra penalties will also apply for those using the internet to peddle and obtain drugs with the Government to move to make the use of the internet an aggravating factor attracting an extra five years in prison. “Simplifying the way illicit substances are scheduled under the Drugs Misuse Act recognises that all drugs are dangerous and pose a risk to health and public safety,” Ms D’Ath said. “The Government accepts the view of the Commission of Inquiry into Organised Crime, that streamlining the way that drugs are classified will create a more transparent scheduling regimen for drug offending. “It also brings Queensland into line with other Australian states. It means courts can sentence on the basis of the quantity of the drug and circumstances of the offending rather than the classification of the drug itself.” Michael Byrne QC had argued in his report that there was a misconception that drugs such as cannabis were harmless compared to other illegal drugs. “This is not the case and the use of the drug places social and economic (particularly health care sector) burdens on the state,” he wrote. It is not just the drug laws that will be toughened with the Government also accepting the bulk of Mr Byrne’s recommendations to beef up penalties for child exploitation offences and the response to financial crimes. Ms D’Ath will move to toughen the Criminal Code to punish those caught administrating child exploitation websites as well as those people who encourage the use of such websites or provide advice to offenders on how to escape detection. Jail sentences for those found guilty of making child exploitation material will be extended, with the maximum sentences related to that offence increasing from 14 years to 20 years in prison. Use of the Darknet will also become an aggravating factor, attracting a higher maximum penalty. The new laws will likely be introduced when the Government’s changes to anti-bikie laws. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/pot-heads-into-heroin-ecstasy-and-cocaine-territory/news-story/0b9c7c264875fc5b7b5b20f69ed724c8
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