News
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Bill to legalise recreational marijuana in ACT has ‘overwhelming support’
A major push to legalise recreational marijuana has been launched in the ACT where a young Labor pollie claims he has overwhelming support for his bill on the issue. If it gets enough support it would allow adults in the state to keep up to 50g of cannabis or four…
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It’s looking increasingly likely the ACT will legalise cannabis use
Mr Petterson plans to introduce a bill before the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Assembly this week so adults possessing up to 50 grams of cannabis or four cannabis plants would no longer be committing an offence. A spokeswoman for ACT Labor confirmed the party was united in support of the…
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New legislation has been tabled by the Greens in parliament to allow for drug-testing services in the state
Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff tabled the Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Drug Analysis) Bill 2018 on Thursday to provide legal protections for services offering pill testing. “We are building on the experience and evidence from countries around the world to introduce a safe, legal framework for drug analysis in Tasmania,” Dr…
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Harm reduction is the right way to treat drug abuse
Some countries take things further. Many have safe injection rooms, supervised by medical professionals who check the drugs for safety. In Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, addicts who repeatedly fail methadone programmes may even receive free, government-prescribed heroin. “Heroin-assisted treatment” has been shown to reduce crime and deaths. And it…
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UK: We predicted banning legal highs wouldn’t work – and a new review shows it’s as bad as we feared
A much broader approach and new treatment strategies is needed for those most harmed by austerity, increasing homelessness, inadequate mental health services and the use of novel and established drugs alike. A start would be to allow and encourage drug safety testing. More broadly, we need to reconsider – as…
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How ‘fixing rooms’ are saving the lives of drug addicts
“The only thing that stands in the way of the UK following the example of other European countries is the British government, who continuously state that they will not support drug consumption rooms despite the evidence and the fact they could save lives. It seems they are happy for the…
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NZ: All angst and little action on drug policy
Despite plenty of posturing, hand-wringing and worthy words this year, little progress has been made on drug reform, as people continue to suffer and die, writes former Minister Peter Dunne. […]
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy have faced off for the final time of the election campaign during a debate on the ABC.
Children could be walking over dead bodies on their way to school if Melbourne’s supervised injecting centre is shut down, Daniel Andrews warns. The premier and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Thursday came face-to-face for the second time in 12 hours for a tetchy debate on the ABC, just two days…
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The Crucial Role of Mothers in Reforming Drug Policy
Although these groups of mothers – and other family members – are not huge in their numbers, their stories are important for changing the narrative on drug use, and help change public attitudes towards drug policy. It is crucial for policymakers to hear their stories, and for fellow campaigners to…
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Prohibition causes the harm: an interview with families and friends for drug law reform
The first casualties of the drug war are the people who use illicit substances. They’re forced to buy their drugs on the black market, where no quality control exists. This leaves them unaware of what the drugs contain, the strength of them or their potential toxicity. […]