Legalise all drugs, says prison doctor

[torture]

Legalise all drugs, says prison doctor

 

By Susanna Dunkerley

 

April 19, 2008 03:32pm

Article from: AAP

 

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ALL drugs should be legalised to help address addiction and prison overloading, a doctor told the Australia 2020 summit today.

Wendell Rosevear, a GP who has worked in the prison system for more than 30 years, said people would change their behaviour only if they were given choices.

 

"I want to give drug addicts choices and I want to legalise all drugs in Australia," he said.

 

"Drugs are illegal, so we put people in jail to solve the problem and we label people who use drugs as bad - it doesn't make them feel valuable.

 

"We need honesty to deal with the issue.

 

"If we think that we can just put it out of sight, out of mind, we are actually devaluing people and not solving the problem."

 

Dr Rosevear said the billions of dollars spent on prisons would be better spent on drug intervention and education programs.

 

He made the call in front of federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek in the summit's communities stream.

 

The 100 delegates in the stream have split into six groups focusing on disadvantage, common values, social inclusion, strong families, leadership structures and building community ownership.

 

Each of the groups has been asked to come up with one strong idea by the end of the day.

 

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23564...from=public_rss

 

 

 

 

I think thats the smartest shit i heard all day... lets hope this becomes a bit more of an issue.

[mullray]

Good on him. Let's hope someone actually listens. It's been my argument for years. Legalise all drugs, regulate them, make them safer, take their distribution and profits away from organised crime.... Forget talking only about mj - talk the inhumanity and the madness of the drug war.

[Rocker]

Good on him from me too. I wish he was my doctor.

 

For mine, his will be the most sensible suggestion over the whole conference. I admit I'm biased.

 

I just hope people who matter have listened, really listened, to the doctor.

[mullray]

I'm glad he wasn't my doctor as he is a prison doctor and to see him you've got to be locked up

 

Let's hope someone listens but I won't hold any hopes.

[WantDaChronic]

good on them, lets hope someone listens