• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Canberra becomes first in Australia to decriminalise possession of drugs like cocaine and heroin

Home> News

Published 22:02 20 Oct 2022 GMT+1

Canberra becomes first in Australia to decriminalise possession of drugs like cocaine and heroin

People in the ACT won't face criminal charges if they're caught with small quantities of a range of illegal drugs.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The Australian Capital Territory has become the first in Australia to decriminalise small quantities of drugs.

Legislation was passed last night (Thursday, October 20) that will allow people in Canberra to walk around with drugs like cocaine, heroin and MDMA without being arrested.

If you're caught with a 'possession-level' amount of illicit substances then you will either be fined $100, given a drug diversion program or even just a warning.

You won't have to pay the $100 fine if you agree to attend drug diversion class.

Advert

Possession-level amounts vary depending on what drug you're caught with.

CBCK-Christine / Alamy Stock Photo

For cocaine and methamphetamine, it's 1.5 grams, for heroin, amphetamine and psilocybin it's 2 grams.

MDMA possession is capped at 3 grams and it's 2 milligrams for LSD and lysergic acid.

Anything under this amount will mean you won't get formally charged.

Advert

It's the first state or territory to decriminalise drugs and will take 12 months before it's fully in place.

The Guardian says the transition period will end in October 2023.

ACT Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith, believes taking a hardline approach to small quantities of illicit substance isn't the best way to deter drug use.

“The ACT has led the nation with a progressive approach to reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs with a focus on diversion, access to treatment and rehabilitation and reducing the stigma attached to drug use,” she said.

“This sensible reform is based on the expert advice that a health-focused, harm-reduction approach delivers the best outcome for people using drugs.”

Advert

Leijdekkers is accused of trafficking cocaine.
Alamy

However, not everyone in the ACT is happy about the move.

Deputy leader of the Canberra Liberals, Jeremy Hanson, feels this is opening Pandora's box.

He told the ABC that the territory should brace itself.

“It wasn’t taken to the community. It’s going to lead to more crime. It’s going to lead to more carnage on our roads,” he said.

Advert

“It’s not going to change the number of people going into the criminal justice system, and it’s not going to fix the problem that we have now which is not enough people being able to access treatment.”

The legislation has been updated thanks to a recommendation from a Legislative Assembly inquiry.

The probe was led by Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson, who was also responsible for legalising the personal use of cannabis.

Before this, the maximum penalty for being caught with a possession-level of illegal drugs was two years behind bars.

Featured Image Credit: Simon Crumpton / Alamy Stock Photo. Heri Mardinal / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Australia, Drugs, News

Stewart Perrie
Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

X

@stewartperrie

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
7 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Body language expert explains why King Charles was 'clearly uneasy' after what Trump did during state visit

    Trump was breaking royal protocol once again

    News
  • Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Major new discovery in case of decomposing body found in boot of singer's impounded Tesla

    The Tesla was registered to singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke

    News
  • Handout/Getty Images
    7 hours ago

    Disturbing behaviours Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian B displayed before arrest

    Christian Brueckner's claimed McCann was 'dead' among other odd behaviours in the ITV documentary

    News
  • Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Royal protocol explained as Donald Trump breaks major etiquette in first moments of meeting with King Charles

    The US president is currently in Britain on a second state visit, with plans to meet Sir Keir Starmer tomorrow

    News
  • Paul Danan died at home from 'cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin' as cause of death confirmed
  • Mum of British student jailed for life in Dubai over ‘very stupid mistake’ gives stern message to 'haters'
  • Mum of Brit student jailed in Dubai sets up new fundraiser after revealing daughter's 'very stupid mistake'
  • Brit pensioner, 79, arrested with £200,000 worth of drugs in Chile after ‘being offered $5 million’