New Cannabis Law Kicks Off Today

[boulder]

FROM today, possession of small amounts of cannabis might not be considered a crime in WA.

 

At a police officer's discretion, a person can have up to 30g and still avoid a criminal record, instead paying a fine up to $150 and going to compulsory drug education classes.

 

And a household will be allowed to grow two cannabis plants without the occupants facing criminal charges. They will be fined $200 and have to go to drug education classes.

 

The changes were recommended at the community drug summit in 2001. The Government's aim is that more people will be referred for medical help for cannabis use and that people in the compulsory education and treatment programs will understand the health effects of cannabis.

 

Police do not expect a big change from the Court government policy which gave officers the discretion to issue cautions to first offenders.

 

Organised crime Det-Supt Jim Migro said the changes would cut the time police spent on administrative tasks and court appearances over small amounts of cannabis.

 

But police would not be more lenient on drug dealers and or less vigilant when investigating drug use.

 

Dealers would still be charged with criminal offences and police still could charge people even if they had less than 30g of the drug.

 

The new laws expressly prohibited hydroponically grown plants.

 

Supt Migro said it was important to note that possessing cannabis was not legal under the new laws but had simply been decriminalised.

 

The Opposition said the message for young people was that possessing cannabis was not serious.

 

Opposition Leader Colin Barnett and Liberal MLC Simon O'Brien visited a drug rehabilitation centre for girls yesterday.

 

Mr O'Brien said a Liberal government would repeal the laws - they were a danger to children.

 

Mr Barnett said the laws, which would be interpreted as tacit approval of cannabis use, were trendy among some sections of the community who had influenced Premier Geoff Gallop's law-making.

 

Dr Gallop said Mr Barnett was a desperate politician in a desperate situation and the misinformation did the Opposition very little credit.

 

The laws were common sense, the punishment would fit the offence.

 

Cannabis use was still illegal and campaigns against traffickers would continue. "A lot of (police) work has been taken up in these sorts of offences and they would much rather be going for the drug traffickers," Dr Gallop said.

 

 

http://www.thewest.com.au/20040322/news/ge...-sto121878.html

[Chev]

Goddamn........I love this state ::

Bring on legalization! Please?

[Luke Skywalker]

 

Geez, could Colin Barnett make any stupider comments if he tried? I don't think I've ever heard an intelligent thing come out of his mouth, ever. And he expects people to vote for him?

 

Dr Geoff would have to be caught in a massive drug/sex orgy with 15 teenage girls involving a tortise, a ceiling fan, and a scary amount of vaseline, for Colin to be voted in as premier.... ::

 

But YAY FOR DECRIMINALISATION! Now we've got the first step, we can make a concerted effort about this to take it to the next level. I can see a day when cannabis is considered a recreational pursuit, instead of an illegal drug offence, but we will need to fight for it....

 

Thanks Geoff, now get your head out of the Johnny howard ages (circa 1950) and start making some decent medical use legistlation, eh?

[quizywig]

well Im happy about the new law, can sleep a little easier at night,

does anyone know how there going to handle the hydro aspect?

hopefuly the LEO's wont bother with a couple of plants if there hydro.

as for colin barnett yes he is a complete dipstick, saw some shit last night on tv the usuall smoke dope and youll be a heroin addict and your brain will turn to jelly. hate the BS they spread.

[Guest]

Its a step in the right direction. A baby step but definately positive. I just wish these initiatives would gather a little more momentum. Legalisation is happening too slowly. Hell, at this rate even decriminalisation across the country could take another 50 years. Politics is too fucking melodramatic and full of gutless wonders. :angry:

[bongenon420]

hi people,

if you are waiting for big changes its not far away.

i got really smashed and concentrated on the main forces behind prohibition and came up with a western australia that i will be happy to call home in a few years time.

this is pure imagination but when this bio diesel plant gets up and going in australind or where ever, i cant see people being too happy about using food materials in a starving world to power our cars. Its my hope that hemp will begin to play a major part in society once more. Then public opinion on mj would also change not to mention the better environment for hiding large crops.

The thing that has delayed this though is the 'aquiring' of large amounts of oil by the u.s in the middle east. It is my opinion that if people grew hemp/cannabis(same bloody thing) every where and started a new economy reliant on it. Third world countries would suddenly have a place in the globalised world and alot of the worlds problems would be helped.

 

fuck bush and his opression.

 

dont bother faulting my dream coz i wont listen

[bongenon420]

yeah i also should point out that my vision includes the conflict of interest involving bush and pharmacuticals but i wont go on about it.

people think you are some sort of nut for saying stuff about about u.s gov but if you think everything is fine and above board you need to check yoself.

[Guest Guest]

Migrow ha ha h ha ha ha ha !

[Guest niall]

But YAY FOR DECRIMINALISATION! Now we've got the first step, we can make a concerted effort about this to take it to the next level. I can see a day when cannabis is considered a recreational pursuit, instead of an illegal drug offence, but we will need to fight for it....

Yep, time to come out of the closet my fellow West Australians! There's nothing to fear, the Police aren't going to come bashing down your door, and even if they do (and you're within CIN eligible limits) you won't be facing a criminal record now! Hell, put aside $200 for just such an emergency! ::

 

We really do need to make sure the Liberal/National coalition doesn't get voted in at the next State election Feb 2005. This is REALLY important, the Liberals have promised to roll back this legislation and I think they actually mean it. A vote for The Greens with your preferences going to Labor and other anti-Liberal parties is the only way to be sure - number EVERY SINGLE BOX and put the Nationals and Liberal last, even behind One Nation!

 

I've pretty much canned the idea of a Million Marijuana March this May as I had one solitary person put their hand up to help and I heard nothing back from them in the end If anyone is *seriously* interested in helping out in the activist department, working towards a Marijuana Party of WA etc. then please get in contact with me!

[bongenon420]

anyone thinking of 'coming out of the closet' should really think about.

the police use 'their own discretion' on the small amounts so its all bs in my opinion.

just another day really. dont celebrate just yet cops make things up to meet quota's and the fines are to keep paper work and court appearances down. Cops have slow days too and if they get bored a-knocking they will be and fucked be ye