Media release – Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Justice spokesperson, 29 October 2024
Drug Decriminalisation Success in ACT – Tassie Should Follow Lead
It’s a year since the ACT decriminalised personal drug use, and the positive results of this reform show why Tasmania needs to take this important step too.
The Greens have long pushed for decriminalising personal drug use, but every time we’ve raised this issue we’ve been shut down by Liberal and Labor politicians saying the sky would fall in if any change was made. Well, the results from the ACT add to the evidence showing that’s not true.
ACT Police were warning this law change would lead to increasing drug use, but they now admit that hasn’t happened. In fact, while there’s been a big increase in the number of drug-driving tests, there’s actually been a notable decrease in offences.
This law change has already shown positive impacts – reducing the risk of harm and taking pressure off the justice system. These benefits reinforce why this evidence-based policy should be adopted in Tasmania too.
Decriminalising personal drug use doesn’t mean drugs are legal. Under this policy, police still pursue drug dealing and drug trafficking offences. This is about stopping the heavy-handed, punitive approach to small quantities of personal drug use, and shifting to a health-focused approach.
It also means Tasmania Police could focus more resources on community safety.
It’s time for the Rockliff government to have the courage to look at the evidence from other jurisdictions, including the ACT, and introduce this common-sense reform in Tasmania.
Roderick
October 29, 2024 at 19:37
I recall someone I knew who was a television news reporter. He was a regular marijuana smoker and a highly intelligent and very funny man. I asked him if he purchased ‘grass’ from his regular growers and he replied “No, I always buy it now from Tasmania Police because they have the best.”
He was never proved wrong.