Canberra wants to decriminalize small quantities of drugs

The Australian Capital Territory is preparing to introduce a bill aimed at decriminalizing illicit drugs such as heroin, MDMA, and methamphetamines. If the bill is passed, Canberra will become the first jurisdiction in the country to debate the bill in its Legislative Assembly in 2021.

In 2018, Labor Representative Michael Pettersson introduced a private member’s bill aimed at legalizing cannabis, which was ultimately adopted after revision. This time, lawmakers believe that criminal justice measures do not solve the problem of drug use in the Canberra community.

https://twitter.com/PetterssonMLA/status/1338185922349682688

According to Pettersson, people found with small amounts of People who use drugs should not face charges criminal.

«We’ve had prohibition laws in place for about 100 years. Over the course of those 100 years, 43% of Australians have used an illicit substance [including cannabis]. That tells me the criminal justice system isn’t the deterrent we think it is. If someone uses drugs, », the best way to stop it is to sit down with a doctor," Pettersson said.

In 1992, Canberra became the second jurisdiction in Australia to decriminalize cannabis, imposing only a fine for possession of the drug. Michael Pettersson says his bill aims to take the same approach to decriminalize possession of up to 2 g of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and 0.5 g of MDMA.

The legislature also noted that individual consumers caught with small amounts of drugs «should be diverted to a treatment program, fined, and have the substance confiscated. He added that since the cannabis legalization In January, there was no increase in cases related to illegal activities such as driving under the influence of drugs.