Own your ow legal marijuana business
Your guide to making money in the multi-billion dollar marijuana industry
Major Studies of Drugs and Drug Policy
Drug Lore, The Questioning of Our Current Drug Law

AUSTRALIAN DRUG LAW REFORM FOUNDATION
 
DRUG LORE
   
THE QUESTIONING OF OUR CURRENT DRUG LAW

   Table of Contents  A Report based on the transcripts of the Parliamentarians' Inquiry and on papers presented to the 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm Hobart, Tasmania 4 - 6 March 1996

Session Chairs:

Monday, 4 March 1996:
Mr Michael Moore, MLA

Tuesday, 5 March 1996:
The Honourable Ann Symonds, MLC

Wednesday, 6 March 1996:
The Honourable Mike Elliott, MLC

Panel Members on the Parliamentarians' Inquiry

Mr Neil Bell, MLA (ALP, Northern Territory)
The Honourable Mike Elliott, MLC (Australian Democrats, South Australia)
Mr Bryce Gaudry, MLA (ALP, New South Wales)
The Honourable Richard Jones, MLC (Australian Democrats, New South Wales)
The Honourable Alannah MacTiernan, MLC (ALP, Western Australia)
The Honourable Jean McLean, MLC (ALP, Victoria)
Mr Michael Moore, MLA (Independent, Australian Capital Territory)
The Honourable Kevin Rozzoli, MLA (Liberal, New South Wales)
The Honourable Ann Symonds MLC (ALP, New South Wales)
The Honourable John White, MHA (ALP, Tasmania)
  Compiled and edited by Ms Tina van Raay Secretary, Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform Co-ordinator, Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and Mr Ron Owens Former Secretary Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation June 1996

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation would like to express its appreciation to the following people for their valued assistance in bringing the Parliamentarians' Inquiry to fruition:

Mr Bill Stronach (Conference Director) and Ms Caroline Thompson (Conference Manager) of the Australian Drug Foundation for facilitating the Parliamentarians' Inquiry as part of the 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm.

Mr Pat O'Hare, Executive Director, 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm.

Dr Alex Wodak (Conference Program Committee).

All the witnesses who gave of their time and voluntarily appeared before the Inquiry.
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS   

  • Acknowledgments

    Preface

    Conclusions

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

  • The Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform
    Formation 
    The National Charter for Drug Law Reform 
    The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation 
    Australian inquiries into illicit drug use and control
    The Inquiries 
    The Drug War: An exercise in futility 
    Prohibition and the health of the community 
    Prohibition and the increase in drug trafficking and use 
    Prohibition and the Criminal Justice System

CHAPTER 2 - THE ISSUES 

  • Common goals 
    Questions posed by the International Narcotics Control Board 
    Economic costs 
    What will work?

CHAPTER 3 - LAW ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION 

  • Winning the war?
    Police corruption
    Conclusions

CHAPTER 4 - SOCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DRUG POLICIES AROUND THE WORLD

  • The Netherlands
    Policies to continue
    Law enforcement and focus and training
    The International Treaties
    Research
    The cultural context
    Heroin use among the young declining
    Government support of policies
    Conclusions
    The United States of America
    The Bronx, New York, a neglected and persecuted region
    Harm minimisation through fear
    Proportion of New York Budget spent on law enforcement
    Drug policy: Race discrimination policy?
    Conclusions
    Canada
    Law enforcement and police powers
    HIV/AIDS and needle exchange
    Effects on racial minorities
    Conclusions
    Nepal
    Prohibition imposed in exchange for aid
    Harm reduction enforced
    Conclusions
    India
    Traditional use of drugs
    Pressure from the United States
    A breeding ground for corruption and increased population
    Implementation of drugs policy
    Conclusions
    Britain
    Policy by default
    Harm minimisation policies
    Conclusions
    Switzerland
    Heroin dosage declines over time on treatment programs
    Health and social benefits to dependent users and the general community
    Conclusions

CHAPTER 5 - THE NEED FOR HARM MINIMISATION IN PRISONS

  • Canada prisons policy
    Harm minimisation needs in New South Wales prisons, Australia
    Harm minimisation in prisons
    Conclusions

CHAPTER 6 -PROHIBITION AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

  • Dry communities: the problems
    The effects of disempowerment
    Mistrust of Government policies
    Conclusions

CHAPTER 7 - HARM MINIMISATION - CONCLUSIONS

  • Introduction
    Expansion of methadone programs and needle exchanges
    Rehabilitation
    Education
    Scientific research
    Abolition of criminal sanctions for personal use
    Undermining the black market
    International Treaties
    A new approach

EPILOGUE

Appendices

  • APPENDIX A
    Witnesses appearing before the Inquiry
    APPENDIX B
    THE NATIONAL CHARTER FOR DRUG LAW REFORM
    A Short Bibliography
     

EDITED TRANSCRIPTS OF PROCEEDINGS

  • Witnesses appearing before the Inquiry
    Monday, 4 March 1996
    Tuesday, 5 March 1996
    Wednesday, 6 March 1996
Library Highlights

Drug Information Articles

Drug Rehab