NEWS: "Public should decide drugs law"

[8L4YN3]

ONE of Australia's highest ranking police officers believes the public should decide if some illicit drugs should be legalised.

Victoria's Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones said there needed to be a public discussion on drug policy.

"I'd love to have a debate at some point about legalisation," Sir Ken told a major conference on organised crime.

He said the public should be educated about the flow-on costs, from higher insurance premiums to delays in elective surgery as hospitals treated the fallout from drugs and crime.

Outside the conference, Sir Ken said he was not advocating a softer stance on drugs.

He said his invitation to a debate was in response to a call by some academics and international police experts for harm minimisation or decriminalisation policies.

"There are people in academia, in public policy and law enforcement who are challenging us and saying the current approach is not working," he told the Herald Sun.

"I'm hearing it come up a lot."

Sir Ken refused to nominate which drugs should be part of any legalisation debate.

As a parent, he did not want to see current and future generations exposed to a wider range of legal drugs.

"I don't want my daughter exposed to more," Sir Ken said.

"If we had our time again, we wouldn't have allowed tobacco ... or alcohol. Are we going to add another 20 to the list? I don't think so."

Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia expert Paul Dillon said Sir Ken's call deserved respect.

"When you see police officers in positions of power making these comments, I don't think they are off-hand," he said.

Mr Dillon said marijuana was recently decriminalised in Spain and Portugal while other countries, such as England and the Netherlands, were hardening their stance.

"There are those in law enforcement and senior police who are saying what we are doing doesn't seem to be working so well," he said.

"We've got to think outside the square and maybe look for things that don't appear to be politically palatable. It's clear just getting tougher does not result in behaviour changes."

Victorian police have the power to issue two cautions to anyone possessing or using less than 50g of cannabis for personal use.

Mr Dillon said the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation for personal use was an important distinction.

Former premier Jeff Kennett canned the call for a debate on marijuana.

"I would be absolutely opposed to any legalisation of marijuana," he said.

article here: http://www.news.com.au/national/public-should-decide-drugs-law-says-deputy-commmissioner-sir-ken-jones/story-e6frfkvr-1225940951982

 

[Jordan`]

The essence of the article is great, hopefully this gets more attention!

 

[thestudent14]

Came on here to put this up, beaten to the punch haha

 

[nin015]

I think this debate is not too far from happening as it's starting to get some media attention.

 

[Strike Alight]

This would definately be a positive.
In reality we need to see clean MDMA come into easier access. People are getting fucked up on pills full of god knows what.!
If the government regulated supply of MDMA somehow, all us pill heads wouldnt be risking it on dodgy junk, because even test kits arnt fool proof.
Hopefully a debate goes ahead and this is brought up.

 

[thestudent14]

Welcome to bluelight nin015 and strike_alright
I agree that a debate would be a great thing to see corresponding views from both sides.

Easier access of MDMA whilst a great idea it also pays it's risks. Something that is that enjoyable will always be abused, I agree whole heartadly that people are still taking shit pills on a weekly basis. But supposing MDMA was suddenly legalised, make no mistake you would have hundreds of thousands of people taking it.

Which both has pro's and con's. Less alcohol and more MDMA means less violence on the streets. But don't forget some people do react badly to MDMA and it is responsible for deaths on unsuspecting people who lack the enzyme to break it down correctly.

Also with something that enjoyable it will be abused, e-tards would flock quickly. I think it would balance it self out over time as people become more educated about MDMA but I believe things would get worse before they got better. This is before taking into account mixing other drugs into the equation and all the risk's that dangerous combo's can bring.


I'd love to see an indepth debate, have the experts from both sides go at it and try to reach some sort of agreement. There is no doubt from experts on both sides that the drug war isn't working, but the next step is still very much up in the air, and I can't see a harm minimisation policy being placed too soon.

Heres hoping.
Ts14 ~ Pill Reports mod.

 

[Divine Moments]

I am for legalisation of MDMA, but I think it'd be prudent to start with some psychedelics (say LSD, psilo, dmt) which are imo safer and less prone to abuse. DMT is one of the most outrageous to be illegal...

Good to see this topic getting lots of public attention

 

[Crankinit]

I'm not so sure about psychadelics. I think they're safe and beneficial in the right hands, but not everybody can handle a full blown psychadelic experience, and if they became widely and legally available you'd end up with a lot of people taking them just to get 'fucked up' in a cheap and legal manner, which may not have the best outcome.

I think the reverse would work best. Legalize and regulate MDMA so the party crowd who just want to reach for the lasers can do so, then allow access to psychadelics, maybe with some kind of screening or education process. If people have legal MDMA on hand, they'll leave the psychadelics to those who are looking for and can handle a deeper experience.

 

[djep]

The tide is slowly turning with peoples attitude towards the softer non addictive drugs. Hopefully sometime soon a political party with some power or influence will ignite this long awaited debate and put some facts to the public. As for people abusing MDMA I don't think it would be any worse than what is happening now, pills full of fuck knows what are being consumed with some nasty consequences...and some with obviously no consequences whatsoever!!! If we were eating pharm grade MDMA we would have education to tell us what is a safe dose and we would have protocols in place with paramedics and in hospitals in knowing how to deal with the drug should there be problems. All common sense IMO. Prosecuting people and throwing them in jail or giving them a criminal record only makes a crim out of a law abiding citizen that had some fun with a soft drug.

There are far more prescription drugs that are abused in our society than what there is of illegal drugs with far greater dire consequences, if we legalised most of the psychedelics I doubt that there would be any more of a burden on our health system or society than what we already have, I would guess that the load would probably reduce. People want more than just alcohol and tobacco for a bit of fun, give them that variety and they will more than likely steer away from speed, ice, coke and heroin.

 

[thestudent14]

@djep
You don't think at all that if MDMA became legalised people would be more inclined to search out and find out what other drugs were about? Using MDMA is what has made me want to try everything else

@Cranknit
Well worded bro, MDMA I think should definately be legalised before other psychadelics, mushies/LSD/DMT are all hella powerful, and the trip is completely can be good or bad rather then MDMA which is almost always good.

Alot of people just wouldn't be suited to alot of psychadelics, with the right education though it would be good to see gradual steps in the right direction.

 

[Divine Moments]

I'm not so sure about psychadelics. I think they're safe and beneficial in the right hands, but not everybody can handle a full blown psychadelic experience, and if they became widely and legally available you'd end up with a lot of people taking them just to get 'fucked up' in a cheap and legal manner, which may not have the best outcome.

I think the reverse would work best. Legalize and regulate MDMA so the party crowd who just want to reach for the lasers can do so, then allow access to psychadelics, maybe with some kind of screening or education process. If people have legal MDMA on hand, they'll leave the psychadelics to those who are looking for and can handle a deeper experience.

I agree that not everyone can necessarily handle it, I just don't think anyone has the right to deny another that opportunity based on their subjective judgement Perhaps you are right, though, that it would be best to legalise MDMA at the same time.

Obviously education would have to form a massive part of a legalisation program for any drug.

 

[MilliVanilli]

Jeff Kennett 8) fucking Liberals. Wake up and smell the smoke

 

[Mysterie]

As a parent, he did not want to see current and future generations exposed to a wider range of legal drugs.

"I don't want my daughter exposed to more," Sir Ken said.

"If we had our time again, we wouldn't have allowed tobacco ... or alcohol. Are we going to add another 20 to the list? I don't think so."

same old shit

anyway yes this is great as its a step forward, i swear i thought britain was becoming more progressive in its drug policies though ? (not including legal highs)

 

[Busty St Clare]

Jeff Kennett 8) fucking Liberals. Wake up and smell the smoke

As the head of Beyond Blue foundation I wouldn't expect his position to be any different. After all there is a good link between cannabis and depression/mental illness. Not in everyone but I could see vast majority of his people would see pot users as a high risk group.

LOL at alcohol being banned if they had their time again. I'd ban sugar and trans fats before I would ban beer and wine.

If MDMA was legalised fuck getting any thing done in this country on a Tuesday. May as well have an extra day off in the middle of the week.

 

[thestudent14]

I agree that not everyone can necessarily handle it, I just don't think anyone has the right to deny another that opportunity based on their subjective judgement Perhaps you are right, though, that it would be best to legalise MDMA at the same time.

Obviously education would have to form a massive part of a legalisation program for any drug.

I remember someone saying on here, can't think who it was maybe madmick.
"it's not the governments interest what we put into our bodies, but what we do whilst under the influence of these chemicals is very much in their interest"

This absolutely applies to psychadelics, some people react so badly they do insane things rather then on alcohol where PROVIDED the drinking is kept to a minimal it usually has a predictable outcome, obviously this does not apply to being drunk.

I know everyone might fire up over me saying alcohol is more predicatable, which is WHY i stated that it's provided the drinking is minimal. I have seen people react far worse on lighter dose MDMA and mushies then lighter dose Alcohol.

 

[beamers]

Who would have thought that in a democracy the people should decide on the laws.

 

[MilliVanilli]

As the head of Beyond Blue foundation I wouldn't expect his position to be any different. After all there is a good link between cannabis and depression/mental illness. Not in everyone but I could see vast majority of his people would see pot users as a high risk group.

Be that as it may, I think 'canning' the call for a debate is ignorant. How are we meant to make any progress at all if we have people like him not giving two shits about the other side of the debate. It is clear this topic has entered an important stage where it needs to be brought up and discussed, not just "out of sight out of mind."

So again, I'll reiterate, about Jeff Kenett and all the other Liberals out there ... fucking Liberals.

 

[Busty St Clare]

It's no different to neurosurgeons banding together and declaring football an unhealthy past time pursuit.

 

[Sameria]

I agree that not everyone can necessarily handle it, I just don't think anyone has the right to deny another that opportunity based on their subjective judgement Perhaps you are right, though, that it would be best to legalise MDMA at the same time.

Obviously education would have to form a massive part of a legalisation program for any drug.

I am also in agreeance that psychs are not for everyone, but restricting someone from accessing them isn't the right way thing to do. Infact, restricting anything that doesn't DIRECTLY harm anyone else is simply wrong. Personal freedoms and the choice of what ones does to their own body isn't a thing another entity should control. Fuck the government and their control. They control far too much and it's only getting worse. Things will get worse before they get better...at least until the people rebel and throw the rich out of their big comfy crowns.

If psychaedelics and other illicit drugs were legal there is no doubt that many of the dangers of them would dissapear. Sure, you would have the irresponsible idiots - there isn't much you can do about them - but what's so different between them abusing alcohol and other illegal drugs ? And what's to say they aren't even doing MORE harm to themself with the current situation of unknown adulterants. Psychological sessions and enzyme testing for defficiencies etc. could also reduce harm.

 

[MilliVanilli]

Not really a global debate about whether people playing football should be legal or illegal