I think that there is a bigger policy reason behind that kind of practice to protect small time users. People already manage to OD at festivals, imagine if they believed there would be no bag checks, no police presence, no sniffer dogs. Further, anyone who I've heard of who's been caught gets it taken off them, gets escorted out of the venue, pays a bribe/fine, and/or sees a day in court. They don't end up in prison. They even keep their security clearances.
A few people do have to suffer for the greater good but they knew what they were doing was illegal and knew there would probably be this kind of security going on and still knowingly took the risk. At the end of the day, I think this is something Australia is doing right in terms of harm reduction as it acts as a deterrent for behaviour that would eventuate in a lot of the short term harms discussed.
So...sniffer dogs at train stations, on trains, in bars - targeting, lets face it - recreational users, especially of cannabis (it has a very strong odour; dogs have very sensitive olfactory senses) - is for the greater good; HOW?
I can see how police patrolling areas where alcohol and violence are a problem can/could be a positive thing; but small, personal amounts of weed, pills,maybe speed?
To mine, this doesn't serve harm minimisation in any way possible - if anything it increases people's likelihood of binge-drinking (harmful and dangerous in itself) and/or eating their stash when they see the k9 squad.
That particular scenario
can and does kill people.
People go to festivals to have a good time - not to overdose themselves and risk their health/life!
If society can't accept drug use at music - especially
dance music festivals - I daresay law enforcement and policy makers need to
get with the times.
I
agree that the use of sniffer dogs in the festival context serve a greater/more elaborate purpose -
to create a climate of fear in the drug using (and non-using) community.
It is sleazy propaganda/fear mongering at best, and shooting-fish-in-a-barrel revenue raising if you want to look at it that way. Insulting to the intelligence of the general public.
Are you familiar with the psychedelic (and other drug) concepts of
set and setting?
Increased fear = increased harm
There are no two ways about it.
If I were to be
really cynical (fuck it - I am!) I would say that Mr Plod and his Piggie Commissioner Commanding Officers WANT more people to over-do it and have bad reactions/ODs/freak outs at events.
It
a) justifies their presence at music events (why not fucking sports events?)
b) justifies their heavy handed tactics
c) justifies them ruining people's day/night for possession of a fucking reefer
And
d) justifies the "war on evil drugs" these bullies conduct.
Makes for
good press too, eh occifers? An equation that adds up to a stinking load of bullshit in my opinion.
The fuzz are very concerned with their public image, what with all that clubbing and taser-ing they do.
Gotta keep up appearances, eh coppers?
I highly commend folks that spray bong water around the areas k9 dog squads are anticipated to operate in. My kinda people.
Cynical means call for creative measures.
Have a look at my original post again. This isn't about
stopping drug use; it's about reducing the harms associated with drug use.
I specifically mention police persecuting users because - well, it is a
form of harm IMO.
As for "bribing" police...are you in Australia, or Cambodia?