DRUG BILL DEFEATED

A bill to allow SA pharmacists to sell marijuana has been defeated in a
conscience vote in the State Parliament's upper house.

However, Australian Democrats parliamentary leader Mike Elliott vowed
to reintroduce his private members' legislation in the next session
in a bid to keep the issue on the political agenda.

Mr Elliott said his legislation sought to reduce the black market
trade in marijuana by allowing chemists to sell the drug if it was
produced by licence growers.

"The past several years have seen a growing change in community
attitudes towards this issue following a growing realisation that the
socalled war against drugs is now being lost," Mr Elliott said.

AAP