In March 2007, the Greens released a revised policy titled Drugs: Substance Use and Addiction which modified some of the earlier proposals. This policy again endorses an evidence-based harm minimisation approach which targets the health and social context of drug use.
Specifically, the policy recommends the establishment of an Australian Drugs Policy Institute to undertake research trials and evaluation of policy and treatment programs; the regulated use of cannabis for specified medical purposes; the replacement of criminal penalties for personal drug use with a system of civil sanctions; serious penalties for the supply and/or possession of commercial quantities of illegal drugs; serious penalties for driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs that impair cognitive or psychomotor skills; and increased availability of harm reduction programs, including needle and syringe exchanges, medically supervised injecting rooms, and a scientific trial of prescribed heroin to registered users.
The revised policy is even more mainstream, and would arguably be supported by many if not most drug professionals and researchers, and legal and medical experts. It is not significantly different from the recently released ALP drugs policy which also emphasises the use of harm reduction programs including supervised injecting facilities to tackle the health and social problems caused by drug use.
The major strength of the Greens policy is that it recognises that many young Australians will continue to use illicit drugs for a variety of reasons including relaxation, fun, pleasure, curiosity, and to cope with problems, anxiety or pain.