Not a good day to be an Aussie :(

[AGBeer]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...ies-for-pot-shot/story-e6frg14c-1226095864452

MAXIMUM fines for possessing small amounts of cannabis will increase more than 10 times when new WA drug laws come into force on August 1. After 2 1/2 years of promising to get tough on marijuana users, dealers and growers, the Liberal-National Government's "war on drugs" is about to begin.
The penalty for possessing less than 30g of cannabis will jump from a $100 fine to a maximum of $2000 and the possibility of two years in jail.
The penalty for growing up to two marijuana plants is a $200 fine, but that will jump to a maximum $2000 fine and prosecution with the prospect of two years behind bars for growing any number of plants.
And the penalty for businesses caught selling smoking implements to children will increase from $25,000 to a possible $120,000 and two years jail.
"We are declaring war on drugs and this is just the beginning," Police Minister Rob Johnson told The Sunday Times yesterday.
As well as beefed-up fines, anyone found with more than 10g of the drug will be charged with drug possession and face court. If found guilty, they will get a criminal record. Presently, anyone caught with 30g or less receives a small fine and no record.
Other changes include:
* People caught with 10g or less will have to attend mandatory education sessions.
* The sale of smoking implements to adults will also be outlawed, with fines of up to $50,000. At the moment it is an offence only to sell smoking paraphernalia to children.
Mr Johnson admitted the laws had been a long time coming, but said they were vital for WA.
"Just ask any parent whose son or daughter's use of cannabis led to an addiction to harder drugs or caused serious health or mental health problems such as schizophrenia," he said.
"They will tell you that illicit drugs have ripped their family apart and ruined many lives. We owe it to our children to do everything we can to protect their future, which is why this Government makes no apologies for its tough approach on drugs."
But drug experts yesterday cast doubt on whether the laws were sensible.
Steve Allsop, director of the National Drug Research Institute, said cannabis use had declined after the introduction of the laws by Labor in 2003.
"There is no evidence it (Labor's cannabis policy) encouraged use," he said.
He also questioned whether police could enforce the laws.
"Tougher penalties are not likely to have an impact because only about 3 per cent of people who use cannabis are detected by police," Prof Allsop said.
"Directing them all to treatment might not be the best use of limited resources and may limit access to treatment for those who voluntarily seek help.
"Getting a criminal record can have disastrous implications, reducing job options and so on.
"Some might say fine, they broke the law. But a criminal record can marginalise a person, increasing, not decreasing, risks and harm for all of us."
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he welcomed "any law reforms that will help combat the scourge of this insidious criminal industry in WA".
Under the new laws, the only reprieve for offenders convicted of minor cannabis possession offences is that they will be able to apply to have a conviction spent after three years, provided they are not convicted for further offences in that period.
"I am particularly heartened by the decision that gives people convicted of minor cannabis possession offences (the right) to apply for a spent conviction after three years, which gives them a much better second chance at turning their lives around than the current 10-year wait to earn a spent conviction," Mr O'Callaghan said.

 

[Bonghitz]

Thanks for the link...things certainly have changed since I've been to WA...

 

[AfroSheep]

fuck these pigs seriously, this shit makes me sick,

I love how, then war on drugs, compeltely failed in america,
so lets fucking bring it to WA? what a joke,

So basically me and my fellow companions cant sit down have a smoke after work and chill out, without being made into a god dam criminal, yet you can have a glass of beer, pescription meds, and cigerettes, that are far worse for you...

How do we teach logic, to the illogical governments.

 

[b8man]

I wonder what the mandatory education teaches you? Are there any valid arguments against pot these days?


What happened Australia - you used to be cool.

 

[paladin420]

I wonder what the mandatory education teaches you? Are there any valid arguments against pot these days?


What happened Australia - you used to be cool.

Reeducation camps? the only good Pot is Pol? Pol Pot.....

 

[paladin420]

fuck these pigs seriously, this shit makes me sick,

I love how, then war on drugs, compeltely failed in america,
so lets fucking bring it to WA? what a joke,

So basically me and my fellow companions cant sit down have a smoke after work and chill out, without being made into a god dam criminal, yet you can have a glass of beer, pescription meds, and cigerettes, that are far worse for you...

How do we teach logic, to the illogical governments.

Didn't they already take you guns? Just askin??? I kno I kno

IC does not advocate..... just askin....

 

[AfroSheep]

i dont no, im not australian lol, im a kiwi , such a dirty migrant i am hahaha.

but we dont need guns, we got fists lol.

 

[Darkstarlive]

Let's just outlaw all mood/mind altering substances starting with Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, right? Its the same worldwide, private prison systems and prison guard unions and the lobbists that represent them getting laws on the books to put more people in prison and keep them there longer.

The people have no voice.

They all have powerful lobbyist fighting for the consumption of these legal stimulants and depressants. Thats what we need is a lobbying firm to push for MJ legalization worldwide.

 

[paladin420]

oops wrong thread. Guess I gotta get high. too strait to type?

 

[Big Eggy]

What does it mean by smoking implements?? Bongs/Vaps etc??

Bring on the homemase contraptions

 

[ijim]

Sounds like they are using the US way of boosting income for attorneys, courts, police and prisons. Next will be stealing your cars, houses, businesses and belongings for the cops to sell. Welcome to the world where government needs to keep a hand in your pocket and a firm grip on their servants.

 

[pearlemae]

Scourge of insidious criminal activity? Sounds like the government is the insidious one to me. Sad Day, Sad Day.
Sounds like they've been listen to the DEA or something. It's this type of actions world wide which will make the decriminalization/legalization of MJ so hard to attain.

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

welcome to america home of the imprisoned

 

[supermanlives]

wow thats harsh

 

[Ragno]

I would very much like to know what happened to all the positive thinkers who keep insisting things are getting better for us every day?

And am I the only one starting to notice that the so-called liberal politicians are as quick to stab us in the back as the conservatives (who never pretended to be our friends in the first place)?

 

[budlover123]

both Democrats and Republicans play the game, I suppose it takes 2 parties to hold up the functions of the government untill the wealthy minority get their way, the difference as I see it is Republicans like Nixon and Bush can go ahead and create the DEA, and make the controlled substances act, and give huge tax cuts to the rich and huge unbid-on contracts to Cheney's company Haliburton.

Democrats on the other hand get much less done, Democrats don't have the power to undo the DEA because they don't want to, but at least they are not making the patriot act either.

IMO simply a matter of the lesser of two evils, but the problem is getting the democrats to do anything!

oops, sorry, this is supposed to be about Australia... or is it like this in Australia too?

 

[ilegalalien]

Holy crap this is bad .I feel for all W.A stoners.
That Rob Johnson is a real piece of work, and now
he has got his way, expect every other walking
cliché, call to follow suit interstate.

Shit two year's max for any number, what's next, mandatory?

 

[wilbur]

I used to live in the sand pit called W A but left because the place is just too right wing. I am constantly amazed that the establishment thinks harsh penalties will fix a problem that only they can see.

it makes good politics tho'. frighten shit out of the elderly with horror stories and gain their vote.

well, it's not the same in Queensland with head pollies recently admitting they smoked dope as teenagers and advising teens whatever they do, do not mix dope with tobacco.
so it's fair to say our pollies are more concerned with the effects of tobacco than the effects of dope. which is good, eh?

 

[BorgClone]

I feel for any man that cant choose what he can or cannot do with anything nature gives him... States insist on punishing human needs instead of recognizing the demand, so you go in the Dam and you can drink, smoke and get some legal pussy, BUT you cant drink a beer in the street smoke a joint outside and if your caught pissing like a pig in the street you pay for it... so fuck it this wont work, i mean were will they put all of us=? and wtf can someone council you regarding your own choice? it will be like here in Portugal, either you admit your an addict and allow them to test you during a period or you refuse and you might pay fines and if no money you can have a hard noose judge sentencing you to prison and sometimes traffic and shit... its a big waste of money resources and freedom...

 

[Smurf]

Backward thinking ignorant politicians, drunk with power,,, they honestly don't care for people any more.