Cannabis easier to buy than pizza, drug expert Dr Alex Wodak says

[kiwi_farmer]

February 18, 2010 3:30PM

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/canna...0-1225831844834

Copyright 2009 News Limited

 

 

 

 

CANNABIS is easier to buy than a pizza, says a drug expert, so why not legalise and tax it to benefit everyone?

 

Dr Alex Wodak, the director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, says cannabis will soon be Australia's smoke of choice.

 

"In a few years time, we'll have more Australians smoking cannabis than we have smoking tobacco and by default that market is largely taken over by criminals,'' Dr Wodak said.

 

"Having a black market of that size is not good for anybody and inevitably big black markets can only survive if there's significant police corruption.''

 

Dr Wodak delivered the keynote address at the Australian Drug Law and a Civil Society symposium at the Lismore campus of Southern Cross University today.

 

He also heads the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation.

 

"At the moment, we have no control over cannabis at all because the trade is run by criminals,'' he said from Lismore.

 

"By taxing and regulating it, we would start to have some influence over the way people use cannabis.

 

"Overall, the aim should be to try and reduce the harm.''

 

Cannabis prohibition was expensive and ineffective, Dr Wodak said, with surveys showing up to 2.5 million Australians will smoke cannabis in 2010.

 

"It's easier for most Australians to purchase cannabis than to buy a pizza - it's a readily available substance,'' he said.

 

Dr Wodak said legalising cannabis and regulating it could be carried out similar to what happens in the alcohol and tobacco industries.

 

"We could have warning labels on packets, we could have age restrictions - we could also have help-seeking information if you're trying to cut down or stop,'' he said.

 

Dr Wodak said research had shown punishing people for possessing cannabis does not inhibit their desire to keep using the drug.

 

"We've proved that we've stimulated a huge black market for cannabis in Australia by prohibition,'' he said.

 

He quoted polls in the United States showing support for legalising cannabis had climbed from 12 per cent in 1969 to 44 per cent in 2009.

 

"I think the minute that politicians start to see that 51 per cent of the population is supporting the taxation and regulation of cannabis, they'll take 10 seconds to work out that's what they want too,'' Dr Wodak said.

 

He also expects a legal international trade in cannabis to develop one day, but acknowledged making cannabis a legal drug in Australia and overseas will happen incrementally.

[flatcat_auz]

Kudos

 

 

Dr Wodak.

[Livo]

i dunno bout easier to buy than pizza, i kno that wen i run out its a shitfight trying to get onto someone here to get some off although i do agree with the rest of it, but i myself would rather it decriminalised instead of legalised (just my opinion dont flame me for it )

[Frazz]

Kool , im really getting to like this Wodak dude and i reckon he speaks like this not only cause it makes sense, but im sure he has to be a stoner .. you know look at his name, Wodak! doesnt that sound like a stoner name?

anyway he can sit in on any smoke up i have

 

but he's got the pizza part all arse about , any stoner knows the pizza comes AFTER the smoko

 

[Morgaine]

Where does he live? I'll go there and bloody stay there!

 

Cos from where I'm sitting there's no pot to be had for any kind of money, love, sex or whatever you happen to offer!

 

Maybe he means you need to hang out outside the pizza shop lookin' for stoners to get weed??!!!!!!!

[TRIPPERX]

Dr Wodak said, with surveys showing up to 2.5 million Australians will smoke cannabis in 2010.

 

 

That means if my maths is correct a whole lot of fuckers are holding' out on me . . . you sick bastards.

[iamnotacop]

Dr Wodak is litterally the only Doctor that I have any respect for. He has more knowledge and experience on this subject and God Bless him he won't shut up. He keeps telling the truth and it is so inspiring. Now he should be Australian of the year or order of the queen medals or whatever. He is genuinely trying to help people, because I highly doubt he uses recreational drugs. His work over the last couple of decades has involved all area of drug addiction, and he knows the truth.

 

It is funny how you can kind of follow someones career over a couple of years and build up so much admiration and respect.

 

You are a hero in every sense of the word to me Dr Wodak. Someone who sticks up for others when there is no benefit to himself. (and I have no doubt that you visit us here from time to time )

[jerome]

this wodak bloke obviously hasnt; been to perth lately

[pommiedude]

well I am here and I have had pizza but yet to get a smoke

loving Sydney all the same

 

where does the doctor live - not Sydney I assume. I will have to head to the Cross at this rate

 

New to Sydney but not new to the scene

[peshay]

Don't bother heading to the Cross - I Live here and it's dry as. Used to be as easy as walking into bill's cafe. Even the street dealers are gone.