How badly beaten down have we become by drug prohibition? When we are offered crumbs we cheer

Sorry, but I can’t see a hell of a lot to celebrate in the spate of new drug law policy…

Medicinal cannabis bill passes third reading
A bill that gives terminally ill people a legal defence for using illicit cannabis products has passed its third reading in Parliament today.

The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill also gives them a defence to possess utensils for using cannabis.

That defence comes into force as soon as the bill receives royal assent.

…so the terminally ill won’t be arrested.

Whoopdy shit, those selling it will still get crucified, and those who aren’t terminally ill have no defence. It’s as meaningless as the new decision to ask for more Police discretion on drug arrests...

Health Minister David Clark and Police Minister Stuart Nash today said there would be a crackdown on people who made and supplied the deadly drugs but police would be told to use more discretion when deciding to prosecute people using any illegal drugs, not just synthetics. 

…giving Police discretion to prosecute drug users is not a solution and will result in racist outcomes, which is what we have now – but by all means, cheer like this is meaningful. As for making penalties harsher on synthetic dealers…‬

Health approach to be taken for users of synthetic drugs, harsher penalties for suppliers

People who make or supply synthetic drugs face life in prison under changes announced by the Government today.

Police Minister Stuart Nash and Health Minister David Clark announced that two compounds found in most synthetics – AMB Fubinaca and 5FABD – will be reclassified as Class A drugs, attracting a maximum penalty of life in prison for manufacture and supply.

…this will lead to a spike in violence and push the drug further under ground. We wouldn’t even have this problem if cannabis was legal.

This is just a mish mash of policy squeezed out at the end of the year that will inevitably cause more confusions, not less.

This debate requires political courage, not frightened side steps.