Christopher Pyne Says Marijuana as Dangerous as Heroin

[Pa-uul]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/reecePhotophucket/ChrisPyne.jpg "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

 

Australia's peak policy making body on illicit drugs, The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, the people who make some drug users criminals and others not, has concluded that cannabis is to be the main target of new drug initiatives. After the Council's latest meeting last in Perth last May the 15th the announcement was made that $21 million dollars alone will be spent telling Australians that marijuana causes mental illness. And, even though the Council makes the recommendations that form drug policy it wont help medical marijuana users stating: "The strategy...has been developed within the existing legislative framework. As such, the medicinal use of cannabis and drug law reform has not been included." Because they don't feel like it.

 

stopthedrugwar.org reports:

In recent years, some Australian states have reformed their marijuana laws, moving toward decriminalization or ticketing schemes. The national government of Prime Minister John Howard has opposed these moves and called consistently for a harsh law enforcement approach toward the county's estimated 1.8 million pot smokers. Now it appears nearer than ever to getting its wish.

Author: DRCNet Foundation

Date: 19 May, 2006

Source: Stopthedrugwar.org

Copyright: © 2006

 

The Australian Medical Association released a statement, (16 May 2006), expressing dismay at the Council's lack of focus on treatment, preferring law enforcement as the main strategy:

The treatment of people with drug and alcohol problems should not take a back seat to the enforcement of anti-drug laws.

Dr Haikerwal said Governments also should take more action to treat inhalant abuse.

There have been multiple reports and recommendations on this issue but little action.

 

The reasons behind inhalant abuse need to be identified, as dealing with these will be part of dealing with the underlying harm.

As well, the AMA is calling for a revision of the NHMRC’s guidelines for the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.

Currently, the Australian Alcohol Guidelines state that less than seven units of alcohol a week, and no more than two standard drinks on any one day, is a safe level of drinking during pregnancy.

 

But the AMA has found no evidence of any safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

It’s timely for the NHMRC to consider recommending that pregnant women abstain from alcohol entirely.

So, there's plenty of concern and new funding for busting cannabis users but when it comes to sniffing glue and drinking while pregnant: who gives a fuck?

 

Call for uniform marijuana laws, The Australian:

A SINGLE nationwide set of laws to combat the trafficking and use of cannabis could be created under a commonwealth crackdown that treats marijuana as being as dangerous as heroin.

 

The federal Government wants the states and territories to abandon their varied laws on cannabis, which have decriminalised personal use in some states, in favour of tough uniform national laws.

 

The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy also endorsed a national strategy yesterday on alcohol abuse, and said it would develop a plan over the next six months to fight the growing use of amphetamines and other dangerous stimulants.

 

Flanked by state and territory ministers in Perth, federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health Christopher Pyne said the national strategy on cannabis would target production, supply and use, and focus on reducing public acceptability of the drug.

 

"The council has decided there should be a consistent approach to offences," he said.

Mr Pyne said the Government would like tougher cannabis laws -- including revisiting the decriminalisation of personal use -- but it could not force the territories and states to change their legislation.

 

"The commonwealth has a very clear view and it is up to each state to visit the subject of their offences and penalties," Mr Pyne said.

 

"I don't think any state right now has a perfect set of cannabis laws that send the message that the commonwealth thinks should be sent to the community.

 

"We have to treat it as an illicit drug as dangerous as heroin, amphetamines or cocaine."

 

With other ministers endorsing his comments, NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos said the states had agreed to work for consistency among the jurisdictions in relation to the treatment of drugs.

 

"How we manage it obviously varies ... but the reference point we have agreed upon is a uniform criminal code," he said.

 

Mr Pyne, whose home state of South Australia has some of the nation's more lenient laws on cannabis, said the ministers had also agreed to get tough on amphetamine abuse.

 

"To make sure all the states, territories and the commonwealth are working closely, that our law-enforcement agencies are working closely," he said.

 

In another move, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy unveiled a national campaign to raise awareness about the crime of drink spiking.

 

The council agreed to distribute information posters and cards to police, the liquor industry and hospital emergency departments.

 

Victorian Police Minister Tim Holding said that raising public awareness about drink spiking was an important initiative.

 

"We know drink spiking is a crime that is significantly under-reported," Mr Holding said after the meeting.

 

"We do know there is more work that needs to be done in raising awareness of this issue."

Author: Australian Associated Press Pty Limited

Date: May 16, 2006

Source: The Australian

Copyright: © 2006

[WantDaChronic]

well i guess that means we are all fucked but then again they tried the same thing in the uk not long ago and it got put back into the class c of drugs i believe...one can only hope if this bullshit passes, that the same happens here

[thc24]

umm when did somebody last die from any weed related product.

 

Reading thismorning on how some of the favored painkillers cause heart failure if a strong dose is maintained .

 

thanks Paul confirmed what i already know anti anything the government cant control..

[bud_man19]

mary jane as dangerous as HEROIN wat the fuck are thoses guys on

1.8m pot smokers in oz that aint bad

 

keep on smoking

Edited July 27, 2006 by bud_man19

[pipeman]

feel free to send this boob a message.

 

Christopher Pyne

Parliament House Contact

 

House of Representatives

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

 

Tel: (02) 6277 4842

Fax: (02) 6277 8581

 

Email: C.Pyne.MP@aph.gov.au

 

Electorate Office Contact

 

St Morris Office

Location and mailing address:

429 Magill Road

St Morris SA 5068

 

Tel: (08) 8431 2277

Fax: (08) 8431 2288

[Bundy]

everyone should send a letter...they can ignore one but not thousands

[stonedstump]

We need to get these liberal peices of shit out of government!

 

It's been 10 years, it's time for a change!

 

THIS ELECTION.

 

VOTE GREEN

 

 

Another thing we need to do is launch our own propaganda campaign.

 

If the government is going to spend $21m on telling the Australian public how 'bad' cannabis is for them then why don't we spend a few dollars on a website to DIRECTLY DISPELL their lies and then provide truthful information on cannabis (in all respects from health, medical, recrational, harm reduction etc)

[Jess Stone]

I nominated him for a place on PotRevolutions Australian Fuckwit page I believe Lord Mul of Content is thinking about it ,

so give Christiny Pynis a vote so he can be accorded the title he so richly deserves.

AUSTRALIAN FUCKWIT

[stonedstump]

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING

 

WHY CANT WE HAVE A CIVIL WAR AND OVERTHROW THIS PISSASS GOVERNEMENT??

 

WHO THE FUCK IS WITH ME?

 

NO WONDER THEY TOOK OUR GUNS AWAY BUT THAT WONT STOP ME, ITS NOT LIKE I COULDNT TAKE DOWN TEN OF THOSE PANSY ASS MUMMIES BOYS FROM CANBERRA WITH MY BARE HANDS.

 

I WILL F***ING TEAR OFF THEIR HEADS AND SHIT IN THEIR NECK THEN RIP OUT THERE HEART BEFORE THEY DIE THE FILTHY LOW LIFE FAT FUCKS THAT THEY ARE.

 

 

 

AND JOHNNY HOWARD THE LITTLE BUSHY EYED TOAD,, ILL MAKE HIM SUCK ME OFF BEFORE I SMASH HIS HEAD INTO THE GROUND AND STAB HIM WITH A SCREWDRIVER

Edited August 15, 2006 by stonedstump

[Bundy]

:peace:

 

i'm wit ya all the way mate