CANNABIS LAWS WILL NOT LIFT USE, SAYS RESEARCHER

CLAIMS by the anti-drug lobby that WA's new cannabis laws would increase
use and spur social problems were wrong, a Curtin University academic said
yesterday.

National Drug Research Institute senior research fellow Simon Lenton said
studies showed that prohibition with civil penalties for minor cannabis
offences did not result in increased use of cannabis. Criminal penalties
were no better at deterring use than civil penalties such as fines.

Mr Lenton, who was on WA's cannabis reform working party, helped review
South Australia's laws.

He said some groups opposing the legislation could be focusing on anecdotal
stories rather than scientific research. "People need to look at carefully
controlled research that has been published internationally, rather than
where research has been ignored, distorted or misquoted," he said.

The Australian Family Association and the Coalition Against Drugs have
warned that the WA Government is sending a message to children that drug
use is acceptable.

Wendy Herbert, spokeswoman for the Coalition Against Drugs, claimed people
could embark on a life-long program of cannabis cultivation if they were
prepared to occasionally pay up to a $200 fine or attend an education
session. The WA scheme will be monitored continually and reviewed
regularly. The National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund has given the
National Drug Research Institute money to evaluate the scheme's impact. For
more information visit www.wa.gov.au/drugwestaus/