Australia: Cannibis Prohibitionists Gone Mad

[motorhead]

Australia: Cannabis Prohibitionists Gone Mad
by The Australian (13 Feb, 2006) Reefer Madness grips the land down under
Reefer Madness returnsCourts must impose tougher sentences for cannabis-related crimes because of the damage it does to the mental health of marijuana smokers, South Australia's Director of Public Prosecutions has demanded.

From The Australian

Toughen sentences for 'dangerous' cannabis: DPP
Jeremy Roberts and Verity Edwards
February 13, 2006

Speaking at the first-ever "open day" for the office of the DPP in Adelaide, Stephen Pallaras QC said he was waiting for the right drug case to appeal to a higher court.

"I have heard the research on the link between mental illness and cannabis and it concerns me greatly," Mr Pallaras said.

"It may be time to reassess the way the court approaches sentencing in light of research on cannabis. We are waiting for the right case to bring before the court of appeal."

Mr Pallaras's plan to test judges' sentences for cannabis crimes comes as both sides of state politics have announced tougher policies on hydroponic cannabis grown for trafficking.

But personal use of cannabis – defined as possession of one marijuana plant – remains decriminalised since 1988.

Offenders face a maximum of 25 years in prison and maximum fines of $500,000 if caught with more than 2kg of cannabis or more than 19 plants.

A growing scientific consensus suggests cannabis produces serious and chronic mental illness among people who would not otherwise suffer it.

DPP Stephen Paul PallarasMr Pallaras's plan to toughen his office's stance on sentencing in cannabis cases follows his decision last month to appeal against what he considered to be a "manifestly inadequate" sentence handed to a woman convicted of cannabis offences.

It was the second appeal against lenient cannabis sentences since September.

The Weekend Australian has studied the cases of 15 people convicted of offences including possession and production of cannabis since October.

Of those convicted, one person was given a two-year sentence and 12 people were handed suspended sentences.

The DPP appealed the three-year sentence of George Petroff, 35, in late November – which was upgraded to four years and six months – and in January successfully appealed the sentence of Dianna Ivic, 40.

The Court of Criminal Appeal replaced a suspended sentence in the District Court for Ivic with three years and a non-parole period of 18 months. The prosecutor said the sentence had been "manifestly inadequate".

[LD 50]

"Reefer Madness returnsCourts must impose tougher sentences for cannabis-related crimes because of the damage it does to the mental health of marijuana smokers, South Australia's Director of Public Prosecutions"

Shouldn't tougher sentences be handed out in relation to the severity of each crime commited instead of punishing the mental health of a marijuana smoker?
Anyway my dog still thinks that the laws in South Australia are fairly relaxed, there was once a time that you could legally grow plants in Adelaide (the number i'm not too sure on, my dog thinks it was 2-3)
Yes the law is getting tougher, however my dog isn't too sure about this case as....

"Stephen Pallaras QC said he was waiting for the right drug case to appeal to a higher court."

....the QC hasn't come up with a case to put up his arguement. So I guess we'll have to wait till then.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by tuffvg

Shouldn't tougher sentences be handed out in relation to the severity of each crime commited instead of punishing the mental health of a marijuana smoker?

Bah, there shouldnt be sentences at all. Pallaras says he's waiting for the right case to bring before the court of appeals. Jesus, are there still people doing research that beleive smoking weed makes you crazy? Ha, there must be, and i say they are Crazy.

[LD 50]

Hey motorhead,

I'm really confused. (lets say they prove there is a link between crime and MJ induced mental illness)

Wouldn't it be more worth while and in the courts intrest to help/rehab a person who is thought to have commited a crime under the induced mental illness.

Also,
A person who is suffering from any such mental illness, should not be punished more harshly than if that person was not suffering from that illness for the same crime commited.

Anyway swim calls BS on what the QC stated and swim really hopes there will never be such a case.

[motorhead]

By cannibis related crimes they are referring to growing and trafficking, not crimes commited while under the madness induced intoxication of Mary Jane. Even if they were, both theories-that smoking cannibis causes mental illness, and that it causes crime while under the influence-are total bunk. This kind of thinking just reeks of early to mid 1900's antiquated notions that marijuana is 'negro' weed causing young white women to lust after jazz musicians and young white men to go insane. I just cant beleive that any modern government or government official would take this angle.
By saying that there shouldnt be any sentences at all, I mean that prohibition should end. Individuals of any country should be able to grow, smoke, and trade any cannibis related product they want. And sure governments can grow their own for sale and taxation. We are a long way from this reality, especially with governments trying to impliment archaic 'reefer madness' policies.
Basically what im trying to say that they are idiots. If they ever 'prove' that cannibis causes mental illness, or link it to crime, they will be a laughing stock. Try googling for a case study that proves this and you wont find it. You'll find lots that say it doesnt. All you have to do is look around you. Is their anyone on this forum that knows anyone that became mentally ill from toking up, or became a hardened criminal to support their grass habit?? It just doesnt happen.