Pot use bid defended

TASMANIAN Liberals have criticised the Australian Greens’ policy to legalise cannabis for adult use, but Senator Nick McKim argues there would be benefits for Tasmanians.

The Greens’ policy to legalise cannabis for adult use was revealed on Monday night.

Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim yesterday said the war on drugs and prohibition had done far more harm to people’s lives than it had prevented.

Senator McKim said drug use should be treated as a health issue.

“Well over 100,000 Tasmanians have tried or use cannabis, and in doing so they risked a permanent criminal record for possessing even a small amount,” Senator McKim said.

“This can reduce people’s ability to get a job, rent a house and travel overseas.”

“Criminalising cannabis use wastes police time and court resources on something that should be legal.”

Cannabis use has been legalised in nine US states, Spain and Uruguay. Canada has committed to legalising it this year, and New Zealand will have a referendum on the issue.

Early studies out of the US point to a link between cannabis legalisation and a reduction in violent crime.

However, the Greens’ policy has been criticised by Tasmanian politicians, with Senator Jonathon Duniam calling it “stupid and dangerous” and saying it should be condemned.

Acting health and police minister Elise Archer said the State Liberal Government had a “tough on drugs” approach.

“Calls by the Greens to encourage and normalise drug use are nothing short of disturbing, and would place extra burden on our hospital system,” Ms Archer said.

Debra Rabe, chief executive of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council of Tasmania, said cannabis was acceptable under medical intervention and could be very useful if used for the right reasons under the correct restrictions.

“I wouldn’t like to used without medical vention,” Ms Rabe said.

“I think there’s more research to be done around [recreational cannabis use]. We’d have to put some evidence base around legalising it and what sort of quantities and those sorts of things, and I don’t think that work has been done yet.”

In December AusCann was granted final licencing approvals to grow fully dosed medical cannabis products at Tasmanian Alkaloids’ Westbury facility.

Senator Nick McKim

see it inter-