Different drugs may require different policies. The legal status of drugs should be determined by how harm can be minimised and not according to historical precedent or in response to international pressures which bear little relation to the needs of the Australian people. Policies should not encourage drug use. Policies should attempt to discourage the more dangerous forms of drug use and facilitate the adoption of safer forms. Policies should be adopted which result in benefits exceeding costs both for drug-using individuals and for other members of society.
More emphasis needs to be placed on the adoption of policies which reduce the demand for drugs.
This requires action by a range of sectors of government. In addition, changes in policy should be based on rigorous evaluation of costs and benefits of the proposed changes. Branches are urged to ascertain the current situation with respect to reviewing and updating drug policies in their state or territory and approach local members of MCDS to implement the PHA policy. The Executive Committee will take corresponding action at the national level. The Executive Committee will send a copy of this policy to the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Task Force on Evaluation and is urged to promote the implementation of this policy at every available opportunity.