Is decriminalizing hard drugs the solution? | Video Lab | ABC News
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- Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2022
- The ACT is decriminalizing small amounts of Heroin, Cocaine, MDMA and Methamphetamines. This follows on from similar legislation for cannabis in 2020. But how will this work in practice? And will it make society safer or more dangerous?
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Decriminalisation is a step in the right direction. It makes NO SENSE to criminally charge a drug user who didn't harm anyone. It hasn't stopped drug use, but it HAS wasted huge amounts of public money dragging harmless people through the court system, and slapping them with life-long criminal records. Alcohol is a pretty hard drug - should binge drinkers and alcoholics be criminally charged? Would that help anything? No.
What about the EXPLOSION of people that cant drive or deal with life Stoned of worse! PLUS the Criminal element will be HUGE
@@mikemiller659yeah and what about getting pregnant if legally to use drugs?
I betting they look it differently if you are woman/man.
Possibly this law is settled bc jail is overfilled and they don’t afford to build new facilities including rehabilitation…
People still living on the streets.
Andrew Barr should know the golden rule: NEVER make Italian crime families mad, I think this will.
@@mikemiller659 This hasn't stopped that to begin with, in fact it's already illegal and driving impaired is a crime. So you'd arrest them just as before the only difference this time we are spared mass slaughter through shoot outs, drive-bys etc. Not to mention more people would seek treatment because their addiction in of itself is no longer a crime that they'd be admitting to. This is literally no different than erasing prohibition life just got safer not worse
A lot of people who use MDMA, Acid, Mushies, Ketamine only use them recreationally, i.e. on weekends. Counselling for these people is kind of a waste of time.
But why do they use them.? Intimacy issues is a start lol
Good advice on how to use them safely can't hurt.
People will try things but really it should just under treatment for different reasons. Should stay illegal to deter young ones away from the heavy stuff. If ur doc says yeh ur two should bang with md then I guess you’re free to do so who should tell ya any different as adults.
@@israelfleming3159 I can absolutely tell you wholeheartedly that the laws criminalizing recreational use of substances like weed, MDMA, psilocybin containing mushrooms, cocaine and ketamine is not deterring young people from consuming these substances. I am a young person who enjoys the club scene and if you ask anyone "is anyone selling MDMA or ketamine?" most of the time they will point to someone and say "that guy over there is". Illegality does not deter people from doing what they were already going to do. People will calculate their own risk profile and make choices knowing that they have basically no more consequences then if they had too much to drink legally speaking as most recreational drug use is not caught. The lifestyle impact is no more severe than drinking too much on a night out if you're taking substances in moderation and not habitually.
@@billysmoke2736 Why do you assume they have issues? Do you ask the same of users of caffeine, nicotine or alcohol?
The ACT and every state in Australia needs to reopen government funded detoxs and rehabilitation centres.
Adopt the Singapore model..low recidivism rate
Legalise, don't decriminalise.
Legalize.
You get rid of shady dealers and you get the pure substances.
Government can tax it like any other business and that tax goes back into hospitals and Healthcare.
No more money wasted on policing as dealers go bust overnight.
The improvements on hospitals is enjoyed by all.
@@crocky69 Why do only some people ''get'' it? You've articulated this so well.
@@crocky69 that’s a fantastical view
@@crocky69 govt weed aint going to be cheap. People should be able to grow their own. Not everything should be about money and taxation. Look at california and how the govt fudged up legal weed. the shady dealers are simply replaced by the capitolists!
@@crocky69 gotta get rid of privately owned prisons before that. The people running those depend on drug laws to meet quotas.
There's no excuse for treating drug users as criminals. It's not helpful, not effective and just causes extra misery. It's a health issue.
i guess youve never had a run in with a dirty JUNKIE that rips ya off for all ya got to fuel their own habit...its a way of life for JUNKIES its not a health issue... and why should tax payer be paying to rehab these JUNKIES who choose their way of life...
Health issue...lol
@@224milo so diabetes is incredibly selfish behaviour too right? I see.
Making drug use illegal puts many drug users in close proximity to other criminal behaviour. Treating drug use as a crime is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Honestly, if you're going to do this then do it right. 1.5g of Meth is enough for 15-30 doses. 1.5g of mushrooms is barely one dose. 1mg of LSD is a large amount of LSD, considering an effective dose depending on quality is from 50ug(micrograms)- 100ug , anywhere from 1000-2000 doses. Who are these people consulting ??? Time to get politics out of medical issues and time to consult experts in the field. All this tells me is that the person that drew this up has a very poor knowledge of substances.
Well said
I am a child of the "60"s. I need not know about the woes of addiction, for I have seen that folly all my life. Making an act a crime is folly. If there is no victim, then there is no crime. 50 years have gone by, and still our fellow Australians are imprisoned for a victimless crime.
THere ARE victims,, the one runover by the alcoholic this is a bad idea. not saying to jail is a good idea but a population of brain dead people is a Bad idea
Some of those drug amounts are strangely out of whack. 1mg LSD (ten typical trips) versus 1.5g (presumably dried) mushrooms, which is enough for one moderate trip?
Trippy
ABC has made a mistake - it's 2.5g of (presumably dried) mushrooms. I agree it's still out of wack. But at least it's something, it's a start. No longer handing out criminal charges to drug users even when they haven't hurt anyone else.
Where do people even get LSD from?
@@pierrebornholm5599 A tiny amount of LSD is enough for a trip. 2.5kg of LSD is enough for the entire population of Australia to trip. So you only need a small amount of people actually making LSD to supply pretty the entire world demand for it.
@@pronumeral1446 yes but it’s quite difficult to synthesise from what I understand
The problem with de decriminalization is it does nothing to deter secondary crimes, committed to pay high prices to illegal dealers....the only way to make that work is to legalize it and control the prices of selling it, legally , as well...
It cannot be an object of large profit by anyone, for this to work and drive down associated crime...
I am a recovering addict with 15 years clean. I personally believe that alcohol is the worst drug on the planet. People who are high are not committing crimes while drunk people are just abuse and violence waiting to happen, let alone when a car becomes involved.
If the catholic and other churches are okay still using it what kind of message does that send to their followers about alcohol even Pope Leo awarded it a gold medal and it contained coca as well, but that was deceitful under the guise of medicinal.
the problem with this is it does not differentiate a casual once a month MD / shroom user from a heavy ice addict when one causes a lot more problems than the other.. i still have no sympathy for anyone who is stupid enough to try meth in the first place
Decriminalizing should not be seen as the solution. The solution is supporting and educating people adequately. Providing solutions to social isolation, poverty, addiction therapy etc. Decriminalising is not the solution, it's just one 'no-brainer step towards it. Preventing the financial incentives for criminals and law enforcement to victimise, stigamatise and exploit drug users is just simple logic.
Decriminalizing is part of the solution. You can't adequately treat recreational drug users and addict's by just throwing them into a cell for a few years. It should ideally include everything you mentioned but telling an addict or recreational user they're going to prison isn't going to give them much motivation to change, providing support will.
People are dying left and right from fentanyl. What else can you do?
all i want is to smoke a F*CKIN' joint. j.
@@christopherstewart2185don't make treatment for withdrawal so difficult to obtain and maybe make narcan easier to access and maybe that wouldn't happen.
We need drug decriminalisation, weed legalised, bigger sanctions on alcohol, cigarettes need to stop being sold immediately and gambling promotion to be completely eradicated.
Yeh but let's be real 1.5 grams of mushrooms is not enough to trip 😂
Nah just take 1mg of acid
Something the video doesn't mention: yes ACT Labor has been in power for 20 years, but also from 2008-2012 and 2016-now, it's been a coalition Labor+Greens ACT Government. So the Greens are in government in the ACT, as part of a coalition.
Yes
A step in the right direction.
Actually no, the Ndreghta family 'ndrinas (of which ACT has 2) are known to assassinate if anyone encroaches on their activities, they will probably watch this closely.
P.S. the law has not come into effect. The intro is misleading. Police have stated they will prosecute until it comes into force.
I’m an American who has moved to Australia. When I lived in America, my job had me working about with special operations teams like the DEA, FBI, SWAT teams and military special operations teams. I want to ask a member of the DEA to be frank with me. I first asked him who would you rather arrest someone who is drunk or someone who is high on weed. Needless to say they would rather arrest the person who is high on weed. When I asked him, why marijuana was illegal when it had medicinal benefits and was less likely to kill you or be problematic than alcohol (this was before it was made legal) he said that he thought it was because it would be hard to tax. The tax revenue is precisely the reason it was made legal in many US states. In the US, the military industrial complex (like for profit prisons) benefit from it being illegal. The more people incarcerated, the more money they make. In Australia, medicinal marijuana is legal but only if you rely on public transit. If you drive a car and are totally sober but consumed cannabis the day before, you can be arrested for driving under the influence because of the fact that cannabis can stay in your body for up to 30 days.
I always thought the psychedelic hippy beatniks were being irrational. So I smoked DMT to see for myself. Let’s just say, I’m no longer atheist.
@@Jyih54531 Can either of you please expand on this?
I'm always reminding people who have truly religious experiences while on substances that modify your cognitive processes to really reassess that. Not just the risk you sound ridiculous, but to also as one scientist once said "give your brain a little credit"
@@letsburn00
We do, and the conclusions are still supernatural. Deal with it.
How did they apply lessons learned from San Fransisco, Seattle,Portland, Vancouver and Zurich?
Same people want to ruin there cities as well.
Meth might not be the problem it is if weed had been legalised before it swamped the country
No, if we had legalized normal amphetamine then meth wouldn't be such a problem. Weed has nothing to do with it.
Great news
MONEY - on both sides. i'm sick of pay high prices for pot. it is run by psuedo criminals when it should be in retail shops. we are controlled by idiots and that makes us even bigger idiots for letting it happen. j.
I think closing in on the suppliers and not wasting so much time on the users would be a more effective use of resources
The people who need help won't get help if all they are is demonized and isolated. As they recover we will have RL experts in the field of addiction who can help guide our society against this increasingly systemic problem. an invaluable resource.
Just my take and I'll be watching with interest. wishing Canberra all the best with this.
"I think closing in on the suppliers and not wasting so much time on the users would be a more effective use of resources"
We already do that. Cops don't care about users.
Even if some people disagree with this approach, I think it's great Australia's at least *trying* different methods to see if we can make a more thoughtful, compassionate and potentially more effective outcome. I'm sure governments will have no problem sticking with a criminal/incarceration approach if it doesn't work.
Is there LSD use in Canberra? I thought LSD had gone out of use
Definitely around, just risky because of all the NBOME around.
Telling people what they can do to themselves is overreaching and will never work. We are suposed to be free to make our own choices.
Ron Paul ran for US president with this idea back in 2012. Pretty wholesome and smart
thats a good question that u can only answer by applying it and decide
Australia: Only 96% of all DMT on Earth
I just saw a video that the TGA might put Paracetamol on script because of teenage suicides. Can't get Nurofen Plus without a script for years now. I just don't get it anymore. Might as well live in Canberra
It’s a step in the right direction but we really need full legalisation to stop the deforestation crisis, dramatically lower overdose rates and defunding criminal organisations. Taking down dealers only opens opportunity for monopolies to form as gangs expand into territory once held by those imprisoned
I'm on MDMA it's 4.26 in the morning wow how good do you feel might have another one I'm home bye my self having a great time got a lady coming as well this is the life
wow thats so cool you also have new world order in your username just to let everyone know how cooked you are
@@TPW13im still awake on it just had 2 more hour ago I got 2 10 packs yellow kangaroo's love ❤ shaped I've had 8 since 3 o'clock yesterday arvo I'm out in the yard with a head torch on living the dream that chick I got over is off her head inside
Hey bro have you done research on MD? If you take too much too regularly you start losing the effects and the comedowns get worse. They say that you should wait AT LEAST 3 months between rolls so you don't lose the magic. I've done it 3 times so far, always waiting 3 months or a bit more, and definitely felt like the effects are already getting less, so I'll be waiting longer as well
I am 32 years clean and sober and free from prescribed medication and how wonderful, decriminalization. Things one may think about: If I can have 1.5 g where can I buy them from? Will I get them from the local chemist or will I need to continue to buy from the dealer. Will I be able to get into a detox with a waiting period of 3 months and/or rehabilitation which is taking 3 - 6 months
to being assessed. Where will I get support and help for my addiction when I have never faced a situation of a court proceedings until now and the court makes a ruling in my favour?
About time
i'm american and so can't speak fer australia but in my own country i think addiction in all its various forms is very mmuch a part of how our species has evolved and therefore damage control is the best anybody can hope for so i say legalize it and try to control the process as best you can but criminalization clearly has not worked in either country very much time to try something else.
Yes people deserve the right to choose what they put in their bodies but lets skim over the reason they are doing it to protect their own and their shady friends
what do you mean "the reason they are doing it to protect their own and their shady friends"? Most people I know including myself just do it occasionally to have some extra fun
@@EvilTaco yep
*decriminalising
Come on guys, the national broadcaster should do better than that.
Great video though.
This will not work unless we have wrap around services and medically safe injecting rooms
There is a problem though the ACT forgets: Canberra has still got a Ndrina clan split into 2 who uphold the assassination if too close part of their oath.
Remember when the US banned alcohol? Look how that turned out.
Decriminalisation and rehabilitation.
It is a health issue, just as much as alcohol and smoking is.
They need to back it with a solid plan
Something has to change
Go ACT!
Converting the problem from one failing system to another.
It's not doomed to fail. Maybe it will but there are examples of it working, as said in the video. Australia just needs to be on top of its supporting services for drug users and addict's to ensure that they have the help they require if necessary. It's also not okay to just sit on our hands with a system that clearly isn't working (as mentioned in the video) waiting for a silver bullet to solve the problem. Trying something different introduces some unknowns but keeping our current laws isn't going to keep the problem at bay either.
Hell no. Legalization is. Decriminalization accomplishes almost nothing aside from the very basic moral principle of not criminalizing users which is kind of what we already have to an extent anyways.
End the drug war. Harm minimisation time. Or perhaps let's just ban Alcohol oh wait that was a disastrous idea!!!!
Should be all of Australia
now the federal politicians will get to have nose beers in the bathroom during question time
Won't make any difference but it will free up resources so police etc can work on more important issues. (I'm a recovering addict, & no amount of punishment would stop the ppl I know, so imho it's waste of resources to punish, use the funds more constructively)
I get having the rest illegal but come on let us have our weed bit unfair that the act gets it. 😭💕 people would rather oils ect but we out here with plastic bottles and garden hoses 😭
The only reason ACT has it, is because the people of the ACT voted in a Labor/Greens coalition government which was open to drug decriminalisation. If you want this in your state, then you need to vote for Legalise Cannabis Party, vote for the Greens, vote for sensible Labor candidates etc. And also you need to contact your representatives and tell them this is what you want.
Their are people out here growing at the risk of going to jail because that’s all they know what to do. when these people should have government backing their education towards horticulture/agriculture. They could be providing more food for our people but they’re scared to come out of the shadows because they’re condemned by uneducated people. They could be paying tax! Providing something! But nooooope we rather send them to jail and have em in hiding.
Cannabis is already completely legal from a pharmacy via a prescription service of your choice nation-wide in Australia. I have a medical prescription which allows me whatever I need, and all of this without dodgy dealers involved.
Also, Australia's medical system offers oils, flowers, vape cartridges. You can get pure CBD oil, THC oil, or blends of both. It's all extremely high quality and very potent. Some strains of flower available from my pharmacy are as high as 26% THC by weight. It's actually a challenge to NOT get completely high on this stuff even if I take a small amount. It's that strong! I live in NSW and it's completely legal to get it this way.
@@hannahighmark8036 try living out in the bush or being an older person who can’t use technology. It’s not available for people that need it. Just because you city people have easier access doesn’t mean everyone else does. We have to make appointments over our phones to even contact a doctor. That’s all yas do prop the city people and politicians up. You think people have access to it and they do but it’s doesn’t mean a 70yr old woman that can’t read and write to be able to get a hold of it. Don’t tell people shit I know I live in the country with these type of people.
Just look at Portland Oregon now ,ask anyone that lives there
ask them what?
@@channelname1019 u r the one that put out the video, what's the video named ,do u really have to ask what ,read the title of your own video ,u r not very intelligent obviously
@@donkeyballs3307 Settle down, champ. I was merely asking what you meant. No need to get hysterical.
to copy the law and put it in place is not going to work....there is much more behind the drug law in Portugal.
To be fair it’s ridiculous to even find someone but it’s a start of course 👍
Just take a look at California and you will see what happens
Yes it is
not the ultimate solution, but a step in the right direction
It would be great if people with legitimate chronic pain did not have to pay for the mistakes of the irresponsible drug abusers/drug addicts. It's not fair that we are made to suffer due to someone else's actions.
Ask Portland how will that went 🤣🤣🤣
Bah, useless , dealers still on their perch , remove all limits. Addicts will be addicts , spend all funds on rehab , not police or courts.
Why don't you interview the MMA Mind Medicine Australia and gets yours right. This is going to ruin their plight for so many Australians in need of help for medical conditions and mental health
And I’m out now !!
your murdoch is showing
no mention of pandemic in 2020? kinda extraordinary circumstances, no?
Here in WA we will never progress.
Crap, rising drug crime. Lets just decriminalize it "Hey look at the statistics, a massive drop in crime since I took office!"
I mean this is not a bad thing, what's the point in throwing people in jail for taking something? They are not hurting anyone and most of us are just trying to have a good time
This will not work at all
7-Eleven baggies
Wonderfully easier. 😞
Good luck and BEST REGARDS TO ALL!
glad to see lsd made the list, it's still federal offense in the US
Hahah.... yeah. Govt already owns all.9fnthe importing. Now they want to tax the customers they sell to.
Man that graph was bad and you should feel bad.
australia will become like Oregon
Smart move, well done!
Women go pregnant…is this law “working” for them too ??
I don’t think so.
Will only work if trespassing laws improve and self defence laws. If an addict is on my property, I should have the right to self defence. I will be ok if the right to bear arms is given.
We don’t have a right to bare arms in Australia. Nor should we.
this guys voice reminds me a lot of coldfusion
I'll save you the video.
No. No it's definitely not the answer.
true, only a step in the right direction
Indubitably, while monitored and with clean equipment. It will help get them to work regular jobs, and lead middle class tax-paying jobs. Worth a try, right...?
playing with fire?
Yes this is extremely good let’s gooooo
It’s the worst experiment ever you’re making the biggest mistake ever biggest mistake ever and they’re gonna regret it so much they’re gonna drown in misery
For Criminals?? Yes!!!!
For the Government? NO!!!! Hell No!!! = No $$$$$$
Just look at California for how well this works, need i say more.
And it had been on in 1 mins ago !!
Terrible.
What is the ACT?
Australian Capital Territory, where Canberra is
👍
its a heath issue and not criminal, stop using the police
we need safe supply for heroin users
This is great news, and very progressive.
Progressive...yeah right. Singapore has the best model.
Decriminalising (Hardly Aussies, why are you spelling it like an American?) Has to be coupled with a legal means of purchase, it is the legal means of purchase that will change the system not legal use.
Regulated supply would help. Putting the criminals out of business and ensuring that users know exactly what they're taking instead of trusting their dealers word. So many people overdose from fentanyl without even knowing they're taking it because dodgy dealers mix it in so they can save money.
@@jeremywest3786 "Would help" is kind of a massive understatement. It is what is most paramount.
1 mg of lsd is +- 100 hits 😹😹
Tick me a tenner lad
Y s. Ask Portugal
Only because their children need government jobs the rest of us can go to hell lol
Don't
So wrong
how come
My god the abc is unbearable 😫
When decriminalisation occurs the doors open for illegal cartel groups who can now supply to a safer market. Check their rapid expanse in Europe and the US… once they didn’t exist in Europe they are now in Spain , Portugal , Italy , Canada and of course the US.
Exactly legalisation is the only path that makes sense so it's regulated like ciggies and alcohol.
They already here and have been for a long long time trust me
@@WhhhhhhjuuuuuH 🤓
Legalize it look what hapened in Vancouver Canada city looks like Walking dead season 24 Rick is just about to be resurected