Aus - Court clogged with cannabis consumers

[poledriver]

Court clogged with cannabis consumers

THE prolific number of drivers caught allegedly drug driving continued at Lismore Local Court this morning as 54 people facing charges.

One man faced five separate charges of driving with an illicit substance present in his blood.

Another woman faced three counts of drug driving, while there were another two men and a woman facing two counts of drug driving.

One man was also charged with refusing to provide an oral fluid test to police.

Since September 14, more than 240 people have faced Lismore local court on drug driving charges which can cost up to $600 to return a positive test.

This is a cost currently paid for by the state government.

One man admitted to consuming cannabis at a party and waiting more than 12 hours before driving so his ability to drive was not impaired.

Another man admitted getting caught the day after he smoked cannabis at a party.

As it was his first offence he was placed on a good behaviour bond by Magistrate David Heilpern.

Mr Heilpern said people coming before the court on drug driving charges may not have smoked cannabis, but may have been a victim of passive smoking.

"I have actually had a case recently about someone who did not consume cannabis but was in close proximity to people who did consume cannabis," he said.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/court-clogged-cannabis-consumers/2819165/

 

[SteamboatBillJr]

Is legalization getting any attention in Australia? In North American we expect Canada could legalize recreational consumption soon. In Australia, is legalization an option with any of the big political parties?

 

[poledriver]

Not for recreational use it's not. For medical it is a bit in a few states, but they say it will only be for kids with severe epilepsy and people with terminal illness's.

 

[manboychef]

The problem is lobbying groups. Alcohol just has so much money that it can influence politicians to keep marijuana illegal. Hopefully, having four states already bringing in insane revenue from rec. marijuana sales will start showing that politicians could just as easy get a campaign contribution (bribe *cough**cough*) from these companies just the same as alcohol. Hopefully, the people that are making marijuana corporate came come together and start lobbying. I hate that this is how the system works, but unfortunately we cannot change it just now, so we just have to work with it. Play the game the way our Pay to Play politicians want it.