Many people are spending months in prison on remand when the original charge (possession of cannabis) would only attract a fine or community service.

Many people cannot afford legal representation and are being refused bail because they are poor or have no fixed address.

This is part of an 80 page brief to the Supreme Court of NSW for a relatively minor cannabis offence.

Recent research shows that the costs to hold this person on remand for a simple cannabis offence
(probably the equivalent of a joint) for the 3 months would have cost the NSW state government approximately $30,000

The Supreme Court granted immediate bail.

Governments needs to start evaluating the costs of criminalising people who use cannabis whether it be for medical or recreational use.

On economic grounds it is not in the public interest to continue to have the current legislative provisions in place.

grace

Bail Application Form
New South Wales Supreme Court Website
http://www.agd.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/supreme_...0for%20Bail.doc

Yea what you say is very true grace and it is abhorrent .. thanks for posting that document too i find it most interesting

on a related matter, i know ppl who have their whole career destroyed and diverted because they carry a criminal record from being caught in possesion of Cannabis, that punishment is for the lifetime of the individual and can cause recurring discrimination, hardship and rejection ..

of course there are exceptions .. like the former cheif of Drug Squad in South Aust. who was convicted of selling and dealing drugs from Police busts straight back into the community, he served some time in Prison and soon after his release was offered and got a job teaching at one of the regional Tafe colleges ...

and lets not forget exceptions for NSW police who use drugs - they have an Amnesty program and get to keep their jobs

https://cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners...showtopic=20220

Hi grace
wow, reading that brief is like going back in time to when the law was dished out at the discretion of the king
Imagine having bail denied for a minor drug offence, yet as pointed out accused murderers, rapists etc have no problem !!!
Isn't that just a TAD fricken arrogant?
Denied bail not for possessing Cannabis, but for daring to challenge the law, to protest, to try point out it's absurdity.
Why are these magistrates so bloody minded in their blind PERSECUTION of NON VIOLENT pot smokers and home growers? I wonder? is it like some sort of satisfaction to them?... like something out of Pink Floyd's, The Wall?
Not only that, but I see for his efforts at protesting he was shipped all over the state on a tour of the prison system, to be pshychiatricaly evaluated by a doctor that could have been done locally and immediately. That just makes me sick to the stomach that a person in what should be a respected position, magistrate, should purposely and vindictively send a person to such a disgustingly violent place as prison, and even worse, if the bastard suspected he was mentally ill !
Thank goodness The Supreme Court saw some sense, that case is a shocker, I suspect we all know who's brief it was and good on him for sticking it to the system. It is a thankless task that costs dearly....

a rolling rock gathers some moss?

blatant ignorance of the justice system when laws permit us to legally claim the gubbament are wrong and knee jerk reaction of jerk magistrates put peolpe in prison.

perhaps the admin on this site will reconsider my request for a dedicated LEGAL thread? not politics but a thread dedicated to helping stoners in legal trouble?

It may be a cliche but as everyone knows there are plenty of laws but very little justice.

If you have lots of money you can most likely afford some justice.

Start your own site for fighting against OZ drug laws, etc.

not so much a thread for fighting against the laws Major, thats covered in politics but a thread for the many growers and stoners who hit strife and need to discuss the situation, possible outcomes etc

If it wasn't for the kind words and encouragement from some members here I may have pleaded guilty to a charge I ended up beating

Lawyers charge shitloads per hour but members advice and experiences are priceless

based on my situation I could comment on how and why the police did this and that

DISCLAIMER: Always seek proper legal advice