❓ Mr. Birney questions the Premier about the Labor's cannabis policy, referencing Tony Blair's concerns. The Premier defends the policy, contrasting it with previous approaches and accusing the opposition of political maneuvering.
AnsweredQoN 143Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I advise members on my right that the Premier is more than capable of answering a question without their assistance. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I advise members on my right that the Premier is more than capable of answering a question without their assistance. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I advise members on my right that the Premier is more than capable of answering a question without their assistance. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
(1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
(1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I advise members on my right that the Premier is more than capable of answering a question without their assistance. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I advise members on my right that the Premier is more than capable of answering a question without their assistance. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I will start again because I am not sure whether members opposite heard! I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
I refer the Premier to Labor’s two-plant cannabis policy, which allows Western Australians to grow two marijuana plants in their backyards without attracting a criminal conviction. (1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
(1) Is the Premier aware that his friend and British Labour colleague, Prime Minister Tony Blair, recently acknowledged that his controversial policy to downgrade the penalties for marijuana may have been a mistake and that he was quoted in the British press as saying - I have thought about this a lot. I know people say cannabis is different from hard drugs - and it is - but I think there is a risk that you start with that and then get into other things. And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out. (2) Will the Premier take Mr Blair’s advice and the advice of many medical practitioners around the world and abandon his ill-advised law that allows our young people to grow their own drugs without attracting a criminal conviction? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
And also I think there is increasing evidence emerging that it isn’t quite as harmless as people make out.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
(1)-(2) I too have thought about this matter a lot and I think we have an excellent policy in Western Australia. The reason we have an excellent policy is based on two things. We should remind ourselves that the previous policy was relaxed by Richard Court and the coalition government. Before Richard Court relaxed the policy, it was not working. We have introduced a much better policy than Richard Court did. We have not introduced a cautioning policy; we have maintained the system in which the possession of cannabis is an offence. To have the opposition run around the community saying something else indicates how desperate it is. We are addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in our community in the proper way. What do we have here? I can just see it: the Leader of the Opposition sitting in his room with his advisers. They are under a lot of pressure. What do they do? One of the advisers shouts, “Cannabis! We’ll raise cannabis! We’ll try to get the debate onto another issue.” That is exactly what happened. It is called the conservative formula when under pressure. They do it all the time. I support our policy because the previous policies that were applied - before Richard Court, and then with the cautioning system under Richard Court - were both inadequate. We have a better policy that deals with the issue and has the ability to get young people and others into proper programs so they can learn of the consequences of drug abuse in our community.
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