CANNABIS USERS' JAIL TERMS CUT

The NSW AMA has attacked the State Government for taking the "easy
way out" and introducing a bill which eliminates jail sentences for
cannabis users, while failing to support the ACT heroin trial.

NSW AMA president Dr Peter Thursby said the government had tackled the
"frivolous" issues of minor cannabis use and possession but failed to
address the important issues surrounding the heroin trial.

AttorneyGeneral Jeff Shaw announced reforms to relax existing laws
governing the use and possession of cannabis. If passed by
Parliament, the reforms would mean people possessing no more than
five plants, 30g of cannabis leaf, 2g of cannabis oil or 5g of
cannabis resin would not be imprisoned.

Possession would remain a criminal offence, but it would be
punishable by a maximum $2000 fine rather than a twoyear jail term,
Mr Shaw said.

Fine defaulters would be assigned community service work instead of
being
sent to jail.

"The applicable fines will still discourage the use of marijuana while
avoiding the disproportionate penalty of imprisonment," Mr Shaw said.

However, Dr Thursby said the new measures would do nothing to address
the
wider, more serious drug problem.

"While we welcome the reforms and think they're appropriate, they're not
going to produce any real results they're not going to stop people
using
cannabis," Dr Thursby said.

The NSW Government has supported the first two stages of the trial,
but has so far ruled out supporting the third stage, to be undertaken
in Sydney. This has effectively stopped the trial proceeding.

Christina Anastasopoulos and AAP