|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Australia: WA Parliament moves to relax cannabis laws
ABC Perth Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thursday 17 Apr 2003 New legislation to allow people to possess a limited amount of cannabis without risking a criminal record in Western Australia has finally passed its first stage in State Parliament. MPs sat through the night to consider the Bill which will also restrict the sale of hydroponic equipment. The proposed new laws will allow police to issue infringement notices to people possessing less than 30 grams of cannabis leaf or two cannabis plants. The bills was steered through the Lower House by the Minister for Health Bob Kucera, who admits it could be months before it is law: "We've heard much information and much misinformation over the past 30 odd hours of debate," Mr Kucera said. "For those people that have been sensibly positioned themselves in this debate I think they will look back in a number of years time and realise the impact that this particular piece of legislation will have on the people of our State." But Opposition leader Colin Barnett accuses the Government of undue haste because of negative community reaction. Mr Barnett says the Government's use of the guillotine or gag to restrict debate is disgraceful. "That explains why the Premier was under instructions from his media staff not to show his face in the Parliament," Mr Barnett said. "It explains why he dreamt up the idea of the curfew in Northbridge to try and give an impression that he was a bit tougher on crime, because this was coming out in the community as being soft on crime." The Rural Doctors Association says the Government's move to relax cannabis laws sends the wrong message to young people. It is concerned the changes could increase mental health problems in rural and regional areas. Association president Graham Jacobs says the Government's move is not the way to go. "It creates the wrong impression it creates the impression within young people that you know this is ok," Dr Jacobs said. He says the use of cannabis by young people is frightening, adding that mental health problems will increase. "Recent studies have shown there are definite links between mental health disorders, depression, manic depression and schizoid illness to the chronic use of marijuana."
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!