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NSW Considering Three Strikes Rule For Personal Quantities Of All Illegal Drugs

NSW Considering Three Strikes Rule For Personal Quantities Of All Illegal Drugs

The plan could stop people unnecessarily going to jail for small amounts of drugs.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The New South Wales government has revealed it is working on a plan that could radically change the way police deal with drug possession.

The ABC says the State Cabinet is trying to rethink its approach to penalising people caught with illegal drugs.

Instead of the possibility of a huge fine or jail time, the NSW Police could introduce a three strikes mentality for people caught with small quantities, or 'personal use' amounts, of drugs.

PA

In the first instance, a person would be given a warning; on the second it would be a fine; the third time would warrant another fine and then it would become a criminal offence on the fourth offence.

This is all in the planning stages at the moment, however it's already being hailed as an incredible step forward in rethinking the state's approach to drug use.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said on Twitter that the rumoured plan is 'a victory for young people'.

"If this stacks up, this is a major victory for common sense, a victory for young people who can go about their business without being monstered by police. It's also a win for police who can put their resources where they are most needed," he said.

"This comes after YEARS of campaigning against the invasive strip search and drug dog programs from so many people.

"A warning/fine/fine as the three strikes before it's a criminal offence. These are modest changes, far from full decriminalisation, but if they do become law they will reduce unnecessary and aggressive policing of minor drug offences."

However, Gladys Berejiklian has since come out to say that her government will not be using the word decriminalise in any future plan for drug minimisation.

"That is not the approach we take. Drugs are a scourge on our community," she said. "We have received recommendations from the ice inquiry which have been sitting with us and we expect to respond to those.

"But can I make the position very, very clear - we will not be decriminalising drugs in NSW, and I can't be clearer than that."

The NSW government is reportedly now working on what constitutes 'small' or 'personal' use for the drugs they want to fit under the plan. 7News says the plan would encompass all drugs and a final decision on the policy is expected to be announced in a few weeks.

PA

The Greens' drug law reform spokesperson Cate Faehrmann added that this will stop people from having criminal records for small quantities of drugs.

"Young people have been harassed for too long in NSW for simply doing something that almost half of us have done in our lifetimes, and that is use an illegal drug," she said.

"With one in six Australian adults having used an illicit drug in the past year, it's clear that the war on drugs has failed.

"Across the world we are seeing the dominoes fall. All eight drug law reform ballots in the recent United States election passed, including full decriminalisation in Oregon."

Parts of the United States have moved to decriminalise all drugs, which prevents people from unnecessarily being locked up for small quantities of substances and turns the problem of abuse into health issue not a criminal one.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Drugs, Australia