Dope Decriminalised In Australia In The Year...?

[Luke Skywalker]

Heh heh, you know, it's probably the only time that the ignorance of the general public will work for the legalisation argument, rather than against....

 

More and more people will think that it's legal, and start growing and using it where they may not have before. Whether it's legal or not is irrelevant, the populace has received the message, loud and clear, (even with their desperate attempts to convince us otherwise) that it's no longer a criminal offence to grow your own pot.

 

Kick ass.

[Guest niall]

 

Hell, I want to go to one of these sessions anyway - see what they're about, see if they're providing accurate and factual information.

dont count on it. They have actually allready been doin this for ages. When i was in school i had to go to one of these things and its total crap. What they talk about is mainly drug abuse problems relating to 'drugs' not herb. Trust me people there has been no change in the law at all. Cops gave out cautions for small amounts before anyway, and did you ever hear of people being charged for 2 plants. its just a tecnicality to make it seem like there is some progress in mj laws but it is exactly the same.

Rubbish

 

The Act specifically requires "Cannabis Education Sessions", i.e. specific to cannabis.

 

Secondly, there has been a DRASTIC change in the law. Police have used their discretionary powers to issue cautions to first time offenders. This started as a trial in Bunbury (and Mirrabooka?), and was expanded Statewide a few years ago. You could only get one caution, then you were forced to answer in Court if you got caught again. CINs can be issued indefinitly. For minors though, the law hasn't changed.

 

Thirdly, cannabis has effectively been REMOVED from the Misuse of Drugs Act and is now in its own Act! This is major progress, it allows the cannabis laws to be amended independent of all other substances covered in the Misuse of Drugs Act. This is the first step towards regulation.

 

Speaking of technicalities, you CAN STILL BE CHARGED! But if you're within expiable limits and there's no legal justification for you being charged (i.e. you're not dealing or flouting the intent of the law) then you will likely be fined a similar amount and the Police may get a light slap on the wrists for wasting the Court's time.

 

Lastly, public perception of the seriousness of a cannabis offence will change as people think about the issue and become more tolerant to essentially harmless people (only potentially) harming themselves. Even if the law didn't change, having the issue debated in the public arena was fantastic exposure for our culture! The issue was refreshed, more people got to have a say, more people thought about it, more people were forced to confront the issue and more people would have seen a human face on the issue when they learnt that others around them used it themselves or they voiced support for reform.

 

It's progress. It's nonsensical and illogical in parts, and unfortunately not all personal-use growers and users will be eligible for a CIN, but it's progress. Legislative change on such a controversial issue requires baby steps, we tweak this and then wait to see what the effects are. Then, depending on the results, we get to tweak it again. Regulation is inevitable, the only question is when.

[BULLET]

the word on the steet in the north of the uk is the cops don't touch you with a quarter of hash or weed , thats personal , not an issue anymore .

thats right, all over europe now it's pretty much the same.

not france of course!

i've heard in portugal it's all legal now; i am taking my bike (royal enfield- BULLET) down there for the summer, i'll check out spain too.