SA to boost penalties for cannabis and amphetamines

[Frazz]

PENALTIES for cultivating cannabis hydroponically and amphetamine production will be drastically increased under proposed new legislation.

 

The Government's aim is to curb the trade in very strong cannabis and have the courts treat amphetamine use and production as seriously as the most serious of illicit drugs - heroin.

 

Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said the Government regarded amphetamines as "a scourge in our society" and a drug that needs to be treated on the same level as heroin.

 

Mr Atkinson said the Government had pledged before the 2006 state election that it would legislate to ensure courts treated the sale and manufacture of amphatemines, ecstasy and similar drugs at the upper level of the penalty range, not the middle as was now the case.

 

He said there was now a general agreement that cannabis produced hydroponically had a much higher THC content than cannabis grown normally.

 

"To make the production of hydroponically grown cannabis an expiable offence is a nonsense," Mr Atkinson said.

 

Under the Bill to be introduced to State Parliament today (Thurs), cultivating cannabis hydroponically will carry a maximum penalty of $2000 and/or two years' jail.

 

"People don't realise just how strong hydroponically grown cannabis is," he said.

 

The current expiation fee for having one cannabis plant grown outdoors is a $300 on-the-spot fine - while growing one plant hydroponically currently results in $500 expiation notice.

 

Mr Atkinson said the changes were the latest step in the Government's biggest review of drug laws in 25 years.

 

"These reforms will make it more difficult for the drug barons to source the chemical ingredients needed to fuel their death-dealing drug labs," he said.

 

"They will also introduce major new offences aimed directly at those who are operating drug laboratories."

 

Anyone found in possession of more than a prescribed amount of "precursor chemicals" (those used in the production of amphetamines) will face up to three years' jail or a $10,000 fine.

 

However, if the offence is aggravated through the possession of two or more of the chemicals or items of drug equipment, the penalty will rise to five years or $15,000.

 

If a person is convicted of a drug related crime and has possession of a firearm then both drug and firearm offences will have to be serviced cumulatively.

 

Author:GREG KELTON

Date: April 2 , 2008

Source:Adelaide Now , Advertiser

Copyright: News Limited

=======================

[mullray]

But of course. Jail more people. That'll worK!!! I think what they may soon have to do is lock up or the non drug users to protect them from the drug users - it'll work out somewhat cheaper ...... Realistically, I think anyone with a brain likely saw this coming - Superskunk is among us. One puff and you're gone.

[Ozzy420]

Well my understanding of hydroponics is growing with out soil, so if u grow indoors using a light and only growing in soil just giving it a drink or water when needed like u would out side how would they class that i wonder, and if that would stand up in a court of law that it aint hydroponics...

[dsyfer]

The absolute laugh is that they class anything under lights as hydroponic, no matter what medium or method of fertilisation. The government's definition of hydroponic is "indoor".

[freddie]

He said there was now a general agreement that cannabis produced hydroponically had a much higher THC content than cannabis grown normally.

This is absolute crap. If you take identical clones of a cannabis plant and grow one hydroponically and the other organically then there will be negligible or no difference in the THC content at harvest. How has this total myth become accepted as reality by governments? Do they consult anyone or get there information from 1930s American anti-pot movies? A first year ag student should be able to dispel this as absolute bullshit.

 

"People don't realise just how strong hydroponically grown cannabis is,"

 

Again, hydro is not a reason for potency. It is genetic.

[mullray]

Read the 2006 World Drug Report (UNODC) and you'll see clearly where all of this comes from. The new cannabis is six times stronger than the old cannabis. Never mind Hairy Anslinger, beware the UN. Keep watching this space - this stuff has already happened in NSW and will happen everywhere in the world. It is only a matter of time. Here's some predictions and I will put money on these with whoever disagrees. 1) Hydro will be regulated differently from bush in most countries within 10 years 2) Hydroponic stores will be closed or licensed within 5 years in Australia, the UK and North America. Anyone for a bet??

[bufo marinus]

Really makes me mad reading this sort of stuff.

Where has laid back easy going Australia gone? Is tolerance a forgotten word in todays society? Yes I think it is

Why do we keep electing power hungry buffoons like this? If we have 10% of the voting population on our side why can't we change this shit?

[SukonmiSkunk]

makes you wonder what the fuck the SA HEMP party actually fuckin do.. useless bunch of mutha fuckers...

 

since theyve been around the laws on cannabis have gotten tougher...

 

you bunch of low life fucks...

[mullray]

makes you wonder what the fuck the SA HEMP party actually fuckin do.. useless bunch of mutha fuckers...

 

since theyve been around the laws on cannabis have gotten tougher...

 

you bunch of low life fucks...

 

That's a bit rough mate. No one can stop where this is going but the politicians and they have no intention of stopping it. Tough on drugs and crime wins votes.

[Frazz]

Proposed law for hydro cannabis in SA may well result in the amplification of an already depressing economic downturn across the state ...

Hydro cannabis is a widespread, entrenched industry within SA borders stemming from years ago different laws when one could cultivate up to 10 plants and only cop a fine!! ... it quickly became the hub of distribution for huge amounts of weed grown from the 'spare bedrooms' of at least one house in every suburban Adelaide street ... collected throught the suburbs of Adelaide by various agents, pooled repacked for distribution to whichever state ..

the growers where just everyday good neighbour types from all walks of life, sometimes young folk paying off the house, educating children, other elderly ppl just trying to suplement their meagre pension, every sector profited from the cash flow into the local economy ..

the money inflow to SA from sales of Cannabis must be huge .. i mean millions$ per year .. things havent changed either , oh no .. who would knock back an an extra few grand very so often ... money for jam !! im not stop growing for nobody!! is the prevailing attitude in lower socio-economic areas in particular where desperation dictates ...

really probably reminisent of the days of Alcohol Prohibition where homes were raided and alcohol stills smashed up or confiscated , ppl treated like criminals in their own homes

 

economically it is a crazy law that will 'cost' SA real money! , and i think its a law against a basic human right to be able to use the seeds of the feild etc ... and if it wasnt illegal to grow your own then ppl wouldnt have to grow the indoors hydro to hide it!! ..