Media at it again...

[Innocent criminal]

http://www.torresnews.com.au/index.php?opt...ws&Itemid=1

 

Cannabis use at 20 per cent

 

Sunday, 28 March 2010 09:01

 

By MARK BOUSEN

 

Cannabis use across the Torres Strait, NPA and Cape York could be as high as 19-20 per cent, according to the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), and not the 60 per cent level reported extensively across Australia.

 

CMC Director (Intelligence) Chris Keen told the Torres News that Australia-wide media reports last week of up to 60 per cent cannabis use in the Torres Strait/NPA/Cape York were the result of the media misreading the Commission’s report into Queensland’s Illicit Drug Markets.

 

“The report does not say that – it has been misinterpreted. Cannabis use across the general public is 9.5 per cent, and we have information that the use is double that in most Indigenous communities.”

 

The 60 per cent, Mr Keen said, was the finding in three remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

 

“What the report said was that unless steps were taken to curb the use of cannabis in some communities (across Cape York and the Torres Strait), it has the potential to reach the 60 per cent level found in the Northern Territory.

 

“There could some areas approaching that, not so much in the Torres Strait, but on Cape York.

 

“We’re were simply warning that it could happen unless it was acted upon, and there is a real concern that it will approach the Northern Territory scale if not done so.”

 

Mr Keen said: “While the local supply networks (cannabis in remote regions across Cape York and the Torres Strait) don’t function like traditional organised crime groups, they are nonetheless ‘organised’ and operate for profit.

 

“Local drug dealers see the cannabis market in remote Indigenous communities as lucrative, with the cost of cannabis much higher than that in the wider community. The CMC commends the efforts of the Queensland Police Service and community leaders in responding to the cannabis problem in Indigenous communities through the Weed It Out’ project..

 

The report say it’s unlikely that traditional organised criminal groups will directly supply cannabis into remote Indige communities, because of the need for strong family and/or cultural connections.

 

However, although the local supply networks may not function in a manner traditionally associated with organised crime, they are nonetheless “organised’ and operate for profit”.

 

Mr Kerr highly commended the Queensland Police and the Weed it Out program.

 

Basically, we talked to with (Far North Police Region) Assistant Commissioner Andy Henderson.

 

“We wanted to include it (cannabis use) as significant issue, but there are lots of positive things happening with the Weed It Out project, including Leaders taking a positive stand.

 

“Significant issue needs to get addressed, and we highly commend Queensland Police, Indigenous leaders and James Cook University.

 

“Our concern has to be multi-faceted approach, such as awareness, prevention strategies and the need to understand it has significant health issues.

 

“But it’s difficult to get hard data, particularly in Cape York more so than in the Torres Strait.”

 

The report detected significant changes in Queensland’s illicit drug market in the past five years, particularly in the production, supply and use of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.

 

The report says while the good news is that there has been a decrease in the use of cannabis among the general Queensland population, overall the drug markets are raising serious concerns.

 

“Cannabis use may have decreased generally, but the health risks are still high and have been underestimated by the public,” Mr Keen said.

 

“Cannabis is traditionally viewed as a ‘soft’ drug, but its use can lead to psychotic episodes and a significant level of criminality involved in the supply side of the market, including extortion and physical violence.

 

The size of Queensland’s methylamphetamine market was thought to have moderated following law enforcement strategies to limit access to pseudoephedrine which is used to manufacture the drug.

 

However, the CMC suspects that criminals have moved to alternative pre-cursors chemicals and supplies and this development will need to be monitored closely.

 

Mr Keen said the cocaine market had continued to increase since data for this report was collected and its risk to Queenslanders is now assessed as high.

 

“Queensland’s cocaine use has increased and is now at its highest level on record, however, it remains small when compared with markets for other illicit drugs, such as ecstasy,” Mr Keen said.

 

“Recent ecstasy use in Queensland has more than doubled between 2001 and 2007. The swallowing of tablets has led to the incorrect perception by users that ecstasy is a ‘safe’ drug.

 

“However, taking ecstasy, like any drug, is dangerous and the risk is increased by the fact that ecstasy-type drugs are often not what they are purported to be.’

 

“Taking drugs is like playing Russian roulette with your health and possibly your life,” Mr Keen said.

 

The CMC report, Illicit drug markets in Queensland, is one of a series produced by the organisation to analyse organised crime markets in Queensland and the risks they present to the community.

 

Detective Sergeant Gary Hunter from the Drug Squad told the Torres News he had no idea where the 60 per cent figure comes from.

 

“It didn’t come from us or the drug squad, and we don’t keep those types of figures; there is no such figure available from us.

 

“As well, the CMC didn’t make any inquiries to us about it.”

 

Det. Sgt Hunter says there are several positive outcomes from the Weed It Out program.

 

“The primary object of the project is to change the communities’ way of thinking towards cannabis use. That won’t happen over night, but we are continually working with community leaders and stake holders to provide strategies in communities to address the use of cannabis and the harm associated with cannabis use.

 

“We’ve had some great results and excellent feedback from the Torres Strait and Cape York. It seems community people are starting to report-drug-related crime more consistently than in the past.”

 

Between 2002 and 2006, there was a total of only six Crime Stoppers/intelligence submissions about drug-related activity in both regions.

 

There were 208 in 2009.

 

Det. Sgt Hunter said: “That shows the communities have confidence in Police, and are taking ownership of their problems by reporting drug-related crimes.

 

“All this is coming from people within the communities; they want to do something about improving their communities and want to do something about the problem.

 

“We are continuing to introduce crime-prevention strategies to both areas, such as Crime Stoppers. There seems to be the fear that people will have to name who they are.

 

“We want them to tell us what you know not who you are; that’s the important issue,” he said.

 

Note: CMC defines regular use as three to five times a week.

 

The consultation team met with 231 people, representing 79 key agencies and community stakeholders in 11 communities and regional centres in Far North Queensland.

 

To access the report, visit the CMC’s website www.cmc.qld.gov.au.

[miccyj]

More of the same crap. "Cannabis is the root of all problems".

 

I do like this one remark though.....

 

Note: CMC defines regular use as three to five times a week.

 

.

[Innocent criminal]

yeah, I spose that makes me a chronic user??

Fair enough cos I do use chronic

[Frazz]

nothing surprising in that blackfellas like Cannabis, so do whitefellas .. whats news?

 

[Kiweed]

Mainstream Media must have some computer program that comes up with a "it's time to write a ganja propaganda story time"

 

No wonder the old fashioned news outlets like newspapers and mainstream sites like NineMSN, CNN and the like are experiencing declining subs.

 

Folks want real stories not tripe scraped off the bottom of the same old barrell.

 

In Melbourne there are pubs dedicated to flogging grog everywhere but I rarely ever smell good old ganja.

 

Usage among the population is very small with my limited experience.

 

We need positive weed stories for the sheeple.

[xeroer]

Whatever will get them ratings/viewers/readers/listeners.

[Rocker]

I would have thought we had we plenty of supporters in all forms of the media.

Maybe they just have to make the 'right' noises now and again.

All I know is we are under the pump more than any time in the last twenty years.

[Foreskinnius]

Am I the only one that thought, 20% sounds a bit low?

 

[Uncle Chop Chop]

I'd bet there would be more alcohol problems/petrol sniffing and chroming in those areas than there are marijuana. The media will only ever report what gets them the viewers/readers thery are after, after all they are in business too. How many times have you read/seen/heard conflicting reports in different forms media that report on the exact same story. No one ever seems to be able to get their facts straight.

 

Cheers Chops