The partial de-criminalisation of marijuana and the setting up of several safe injecting houses in Melbourne are key features of a bold new drugs policy, unveiled by the State Opposition. Labor also supports heroin trials, subject to Federal Government approval. The Premier, Jeff Kennett, says Labor's policy is a knee jerk reaction to the drugs problem. Researcher Simon Lenton said a key finding of the survey was that about 90 per cent from both groups said they had not reduced their use of the drug, despite the different penalties.
Deterrence is most likely to work where the chance of being caught, or apprehended, is quite high.
Our work shows that the chances of being actually busted for a cannabis offence are pretty low, probably less than about one per cent per year. Comparisons of the South Australian and West Australian users showed that WA's criminal convictions system had a far greater negative impact on the lives of cannabis offenders. A third of the WA group, compared to two per cent of the SA group, said they had been sacked, did not get a job, or stopped applying for jobs because of their conviction. Mr Lenton said many having employment problems in WA were working in the mining industry. But, there had been criticism of the SA system, with only 45 per cent of those issued with CENs paying their fines by the due date.