ACT decriminalises possessing small quantities of drugs in nation first – Daily Mail
By Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press
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The ACT has become the first jurisdiction in the country to decriminalise illicit drugs in small quantities.
Residents found with personal use amounts of nine different types of drugs, including cocaine, speed and MDMA, will not be criminally prosecuted.
Instead they will be cautioned, fined or referred to a drug diversion program.
The Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Bill Amendment was passed through parliament on Thursday and will come into effect next year.
The ACT has become the first jurisdiction in the country to decriminalise illicit drugs in small quantities (stock image)
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said focusing on harm-minimisation rather than punishing drug users was the way forward.
‘The ACT has led the nation with a progressive approach to reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs with a focus on diversion, access to treatment and rehabilitation and reducing the stigma attached to drug use,’ she said.
‘This sensible reform is based on the expert advice that a health focused, harm reduction approach delivers the best outcome for people using drugs.’
There will be a 12-month transition period, meaning the laws won’t kick in until October 2023.
The government said they would use the transition period to bolster oversight arrangements and train frontline workers including police.
Backbencher Michael Pettersson praised the move after first introducing the bill to parliament in July 2021.
‘Today is an important day,’ he said. ‘Today’s bill is not a radical revolution; it is a gradual evolution of our existing laws.’
Residents found with personal use amounts of nine different types of drugs, including cocaine, speed and MDMA, will not be criminally prosecuted (stock image)
The ACT already has laws allowing residents to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis.
‘Today we have expanded that framework,’ Mr Pettersson said.
‘The many benefits of that scheme for many years will now be applied to a wider range of substances that will capture more Canberrans – with the ultimate goal of making it easier for them to access the help they need.’
Canberra Liberals deputy leader Jeremy Hanson condemned the ‘radical’ move.
‘It wasn’t taken to the community. It’s going to lead to more crime. It’s going to lead to more carnage on our roads,’ he told the ABC.
‘It’s not going to change the number of people going into the criminal justice system, and it’s not going to fix the problem that we have now which is not enough people being able to access treatment.’
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
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