A forum of drug experts in Hobart has been told cannabis is a health issue, not a criminal one.
Tasmania’s Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council is trying to stimulate debate on cannabis decriminalisation as it prepares for its annual conference later this week.
At a roundtable in Hobart, the former Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Palmer, said drug policing has not made a difference.
“Drug use and possession really is not a law enforcement issue, it’s essentially a health issue,” said Mr Palmer.
“It makes no sense to me that we lock up young men and women for possession or use of cannabis, create huge employment difficulties for them going forward, sometimes visa and travel problems when we’re only arresting some 3 per cent of users in this country.
“To deal with that as a criminal matter seems to me to be counterproductive.”
It is currently illegal to possess, smoke or supply cannabis in Australia.
Decriminalisation would not legalise the drug legal, but would remove criminal charges as a punishment.
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