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‘Drug pushers in suits’: Why the ACT’s bid to ‘legalise heroin’ failed
Almost 20 years since Prime Minister John Howard scuttled a scientific trial into the effectiveness of providing prescription heroin to addicts, former ACT independent MLA Michael Moore believes its time to start the conversation about it again. […]
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‘We probably weren’t brave enough on injecting rooms,’ says Victoria’s former police chief Ken Lay
Victoria’s former police chief has spoken out in support of supervised injecting rooms for Melbourne, saying drug use is not an issue to “arrest your way out of”. Ken Lay, now Ambulance Victoria chairman, told Joy FM’s Saturday Magazine program that drug users were sick, not criminals. […]
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Meet America’s Most Powerful Drug Reformer: A Conversation with New Drug Policy Alliance Head Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno
McFarland Sánchez-Moreno turns to drug reform as her primary remit, at the head of an organization with a $15 million budget, offices in California, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Washington, D.C.; a considerable cadre of experienced and talented professionals, and a well-earned reputation for being able to make drug reform actually happen. […]
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Indonesian President tells police to shoot foreign drug dealers who resist arrest
Indonesia already has tough laws against drugs, and Mr Widodo has previously been criticised for ordering executions against convicted drug traffickers given death penalties in the country’s courts. Mr Widodo’s remarks have drawn comparison to that of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched a brutal anti-drug crackdown about a year ago that saw many alleged drug dealers killed. […]
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Pharmacies in Uruguay have become the first in the world to start legally selling marijuana
This week, pharmacies have begun distribution of the drug, which is available to Uruguayan citizens and permanent residents only, who need to sign up to a database before they can buy it. […]
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Singapore hangs Malaysian drug trafficker
“(Srivijayan) was executed despite a pending appeal to have his case taken to the International Court of Justice, which would look into allegations that he was not given a fair trial,” the UN human rights body said in a statement. James Gomez, Amnesty International’s director for South East Asia and the Pacific, said: “That this cruel punishment has been administered after…
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Why is Australia’s most progressive Premier blocking an injection room trial?
The paramedics who treat overdosed heroin addicts want a safe injecting room trial. The Richmond traders and locals who deal with users want a trial. The local government backs it. Health experts across the fields demand it. And Victoria’s coroner has twice recommended the state trial a medically supervised injecting room. […]
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Uruguay, First Country in the World to Legally Regulate Marijuana, Begins Retail Sales Next Week
Next week, Uruguay will begin sales of legal marijuana for adult residents. The legalization proposal was put forward by former President José Mujica in 2012 as part of a comprehensive package aimed at improving public safety. Uruguay’s parliament gave final approval to the measure in December 2013, making theirs the first country in the world to legally regulate the production, distribution and…
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Heroin use in Melbourne hits 20-year high
Fiona Patton, a member of the Upper House of Victoria parliament, said there was no serious organization that opposed safe injecting rooms. “Anyone with any common sense who has been there on the streets will see it is not working and people are dying,” Patton said. […]
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Singapore: Malaysian facing imminent execution for drugs conviction after unfair trial
There are only four days left to save Prabagaran Srivijayan’s life before he is cruelly dragged to the gallows. The Singaporean authorities must immediately halt his execution before another person suffers this inhumane and irreversible punishment. […]