Yet another hard line on drugs NSW

[Buddy]

By SIMON BENSON

 

February 03, 2006

 

CANNABIS smokers may be forced to take counselling sessions on the links between marijuana and mental disorders to avoid being charged on a first offence, in a rewriting of NSW drug laws.

 

The Daily Telegraph has learned Premier Morris Iemma called for a review of the cannabis cautioning scheme to send a stronger message about the effects of marijuana on mental health.

 

But the real crackdown will be brought to bear on those caught growing high strength (hydroponic) cannabis - now thought to be a significant factor in rising mental health problems.

 

The Government is about to introduce what it claims will be the most hardline legislation in the country, with people facing 10-year jail sentences for growing as few as five hydroponic plants.

Sentences of 20 years will be made law for crops of 200 plants. A range of new offences will also apply to people who expose children to hydroponic drug houses.

 

Mr Iemma has undertaken a complete rewriting of cannabis laws in response to concerns from health authorities that it is a significant contributor to the mental health crisis.

 

"No one wants to see a young person who has made a genuine mistake, unfairly punished," Mr Iemma said.

 

"But we can't downplay the health and social consequences of regular cannabis use.

 

"That's why I want to see whether this scheme can be used to further tackle cannabis use and its devastating impact on mental health.

 

"There is growing evidence of a link between long-term cannabis use and the incidence of severe mental health problems," said Mr Iemma.

 

"Regular cannabis use can exacerbate mental illnesses and associated criminal activity. Experts tell us that potent, hydroponically grown cannabis is a particular problem."

 

Hydro, as it is known, can be between five and seven times stronger than conventionally grown marijuana.

 

The cautioning scheme for people caught with 15g of marijuana was introduced in 2000 to offer police an alternative to charging offenders and clogging courts with petty offences.

 

It has been hailed a success for freeing up police to tackle serious crime and keeping people from attracting criminal records for minor offences.

 

Users are issued with a warning for the first offence and then issued with a caution on the second, requiring them to call a counselling service. But less than 14 per cent comply.

 

The Government is drafting its response to a review of cannabis cautioning undertaken by the Bureau of Crime Statistics.

 

Daily Telegraph.

 

Eat ya heart out Indonesia

Edited February 2, 2006 by Buddy

[WantDaChronic]

thats so fucked up 10 years in prison for 5 plants? thats unbelievable and is making me consider down sizing my grow

[daeman]

what a joke, it amazez me how blinkered and stupid the governing bodies in this contry can be.\

how can one state be decrimanalised and another be imposing harsher laws all in one country?? it aggrevates me no end to see stuff like this, because like alcohol, its only a small percentage of people who are causing problems.

\at the end of the day, all this will do is tie up court and police rescorces in an already overstreached system.

\in conclusion, moris lemma, you are a dick head.

\sorry, had to vent on yet another stupid law, made up to make a new figure to look like he is taking action

[Gruntus]

new law = more criminals

I don't like being a criminal because I know my mind and follow my passion

[WantDaChronic]

new law = more criminals

I don't like being a criminal because I know my mind and follow my passion

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

well said

[naturalmystic]

Its always gona be the same fucked up shit being thrown at smokers , far more devastating socail and physical problems are created through alcohol and pharmecuticals but of course there getting taxes for those .

[Mushaman]

you have to ask yourself what else is happening while they fill the headlines with this bullshit .... there are so many examples of people like me ... 30+ yrs of heavy smoking ... raised a family, run a business .... played the straight n narrow .... these new laws make me wanna do the opposite - there is absolutely nothing wrong with my brain cell !!

I'll bet there are some really contraversial issues going on that these efin politicians are hiding under the CANNABIS MANIA headlines .... :scratchin

my Dad always taught me .... distrust Politicians, Policemen and Journalists - they are a unit and we are the target ...

[daeman]

please do not start me on cops, i have just had some real troubles with them mush.

\they like to pick soft targets, people they can try and bully, smokers and modified car owners are just a few of thier faves, and i happen to be both, grrrr, friggen bulshite defects, i mean why try and put one over on a guy whho works on cars for a living??

\ah well, karma is a funny thing

[naturalmystic]

How many people that dont smoke have mental disorders ? maybe the ratio would be more straight people who dont take drugs are crazier . What gets me is that it makes no difference weather you grow a strain in nutrients or in outdoor soil its going to have the same potency, or am i just stating the obvious ?

[naturalmystic]

Youd almost say there getting advice from the halfwits that claim to be crazy through pot , half of them would have predispositions to the disorders and if they are schizos its just brought it on quicker , thered also be a percentage of criminals who blame pot for there behaviour in courts etc . BUt its almost like the weapons of mass destruction lie to fulfill there own agendas, which once again somehow revolve around business. The evil weed is back , fuckin bozos . Lets get some scientific evidence proving that hydros stronger for the publics sake , not some spoon fed propagandic crap , its making sick im fuking bolemic . Even if it was stronger by .0005% who gives a fuck go and shoot up heroin drink your spirits and cancerous ciggerettes and wel compare whos more screwed than some potsmoker , most of the mental problems caused by pot is how fucking paranoid we get due to these mindless laws .