Police criticise move by ACT to decriminalise use of cocaine, heroin and ice
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The ACT government's massive effort to decriminalize small quantities of illicit drugs has sparked police anger; Police believe this change will only attract more crime to the region, which they claim will become a "fantasy country" for drug users. Law enforcement in nation's capital says the new laws will increase drug purchases and gang activity, while opposing many drug experts' statement that decriminalization would lead to a reduction in number of people using hazardous substances. Radical changes to drug law will begin in October and ACT will become first jurisdiction in Australia to decriminalize use of ice, heroin and cocaine. There are warnings that Canberra will also face drug problems similar to those seen in the US. TelemedellinTikTok "We will seize drugs and if anyone has something that looks a little more than allowed, we will lock them up for supply," Mr Gaughan said on Monday. The laws were passed in District parliament in December after the law was passed by ACT's Labor-Green majority government. The deputy commissioner said it would be "naive to think that people wouldn't come here even for a weekend to smoke cocaine and not worry about the cops." The ACT government's major effort to decriminalize small amounts of illegal drugs has sparked anger in police, who believe this change will only attract more crime to the area. Nicole Lee, professor at Curtin University's National Institute for Drug Research, said there is no academic evidence to suggest that decriminalization will have a "honeypot effect." "The only thing that has changed is that we are pushing people out of the criminal justice system and into the healthcare system," said Dr Lee. "We also have to keep in mind that 43 percent of the Australian population has tried an illegal drug in their lifetime and 10 percent has used it recently, so just because drugs are illegal doesn't really prevent people from using them." There is also fear that fentanyl, a powerful drug that is taking the United States by storm, may soon "destroy" Australian communities. But the threat of such shipments being overlooked is dangerously real, says Alex Caruana, AFP award-winning member and head of the Australian Federal Police Association. He said domestic and international crime syndicates are closely monitoring the Australian police force. "While 30 kilos may not seem like a lot, that amounts to lethal doses that could kill a large number of Australians," he told News.au. "If it was done in a backyard or a poor quality shed, the lethal dose figure is likely to increase significantly." Mr Caruana said controlling a Schedule 8 drug presents subtle challenges that clearly illicit drugs do not present, but his focus remains cutting supply lines before both reach Australian shores. "We are investing in eliminating these crimes before they reach country…we put more Australians at risk once the crime reaches country," he said. The powerful opioid is not only dangerous those who want to use it, but