poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
AUS - Cannabis hauls climb as police decry soft image
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cannabis-hauls-climb-as-police-decry-soft-image-20120520-1yz0z.html
IT IS the drug of choice across the country and claims the largest share of the illicit drug market globally. But new figures have painted an even more alarming picture of Australia's marijuana trade, with authorities making a record number of cannabis seizures at the Australian border last year.
According to the Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report 2010-11, the number of border detections increased by 47 per cent, from 1454 to 2137. There was also a staggering 255 per cent increase in the weight of cannabis seized, from 20 kilograms in 2009-10 to 69.6 kilograms last year.
The report reveals cannabis oil, seeds and resin continue to be the most common forms of cannabis detected. Among the major seizures was 10.5 kilograms of cannabis resin detected on January 1, 2011, concealed in the baggage of a passenger travelling from Lebanon to Brisbane.
There was also 6.9 kilograms of cannabis seed detected on June 30 last year, in an air cargo consignment from Canada to Adelaide, while a further five kilograms of cannabis seed was detected on May 24 via parcel post from the US to Perth.
As debate continues about the decriminalisation of some drugs, authorities believe cannabis has an image problem.
The drug squad commander, Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham, said there was no such thing as a soft drug and cannabis should be seen as it really is - a dangerous gateway drug that is a scourge on society.
''The link between mental illness and cannabis, for example, has long been established, as has the fact it is a gateway drug. Very few other drug users started on drugs other than cannabis,'' he said. ''You only need to speak with a few long-term users to see they can't function without significant amounts of cannabis every day.''
The crime commission's chief executive, John Lawler, recently noted about 70 per cent of all drug-related arrests nationally are for cannabis, yet ''we all know the dangers … long-term psychosis and mental health issues are directly attributable to cannabis use''.
Last year, the NSW Police Force's drug squad seized and destroyed $28 million worth of the crop during its annual cannabis eradication program. In the first three months of this year, more than $14 million worth of cannabis was seized and destroyed during raids in and around the Richmond and Coffs Harbour local area commands.
In Richmond, a total of 3734 plants were found and seized, while in the Coffs Harbour hinterland 3321 plants - some up to 2.5 metres high - were destroyed.
Superintendent Bingham said debate often focused on opinions without providing solutions.
''I'm in no way a wowser and I welcome debate but every time I hear the decriminalisation cry, and often from very esteemed citizens, I ask the question: 'Well, how are you going to implement this?' It's all well and good to have an idea, or view, but if [you] have the view, you also need the solution,'' he said.
Superintendent Bingham said police were ''heavily involved'' in state and national committees addressing substance abuse and were working in the area of harm minimisation as one of the pillars of the National Drug Strategy, the other two being supply reduction and demand reduction.
According to the Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report 2010-11, the number of border detections increased by 47 per cent, from 1454 to 2137. There was also a staggering 255 per cent increase in the weight of cannabis seized, from 20 kilograms in 2009-10 to 69.6 kilograms last year.
The report reveals cannabis oil, seeds and resin continue to be the most common forms of cannabis detected. Among the major seizures was 10.5 kilograms of cannabis resin detected on January 1, 2011, concealed in the baggage of a passenger travelling from Lebanon to Brisbane.
There was also 6.9 kilograms of cannabis seed detected on June 30 last year, in an air cargo consignment from Canada to Adelaide, while a further five kilograms of cannabis seed was detected on May 24 via parcel post from the US to Perth.
As debate continues about the decriminalisation of some drugs, authorities believe cannabis has an image problem.
The drug squad commander, Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham, said there was no such thing as a soft drug and cannabis should be seen as it really is - a dangerous gateway drug that is a scourge on society.
''The link between mental illness and cannabis, for example, has long been established, as has the fact it is a gateway drug. Very few other drug users started on drugs other than cannabis,'' he said. ''You only need to speak with a few long-term users to see they can't function without significant amounts of cannabis every day.''
The crime commission's chief executive, John Lawler, recently noted about 70 per cent of all drug-related arrests nationally are for cannabis, yet ''we all know the dangers … long-term psychosis and mental health issues are directly attributable to cannabis use''.
Last year, the NSW Police Force's drug squad seized and destroyed $28 million worth of the crop during its annual cannabis eradication program. In the first three months of this year, more than $14 million worth of cannabis was seized and destroyed during raids in and around the Richmond and Coffs Harbour local area commands.
In Richmond, a total of 3734 plants were found and seized, while in the Coffs Harbour hinterland 3321 plants - some up to 2.5 metres high - were destroyed.
Superintendent Bingham said debate often focused on opinions without providing solutions.
''I'm in no way a wowser and I welcome debate but every time I hear the decriminalisation cry, and often from very esteemed citizens, I ask the question: 'Well, how are you going to implement this?' It's all well and good to have an idea, or view, but if [you] have the view, you also need the solution,'' he said.
Superintendent Bingham said police were ''heavily involved'' in state and national committees addressing substance abuse and were working in the area of harm minimisation as one of the pillars of the National Drug Strategy, the other two being supply reduction and demand reduction.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cannabis-hauls-climb-as-police-decry-soft-image-20120520-1yz0z.html