Legalising Psychedelic Drugs: An Interview with LSD Advocate Greg Kasarik
Greg Kasarik appeared in Melbourne’s Magistrates Court on January 10 this year, on a charge of being in possession of a drug of dependency. Kasarik was arrested on April 19 last year, when he was found in possession of LSD, while he was...
January is ‘Divorce Month’ for Family Lawyers
The end of the year is meant to be a time to relax and unwind with family and friends. But for many, the financial pressures and unrealistic expectations of Christmas and New Year’s can take a heavy emotional toll. Add...
Sniffer Dogs: False Positives and Limits to Police Powers
One of the most controversial tools in the armoury of police when it comes to enforcing drug laws is the use of drug detection dogs. These dogs were introduced after the 2000 Sydney Olympics to catch drug suppliers, but have...
Are E-Cigarettes Legal?
Electronic cigarettes or ‘vapes’ are becoming a popular alternative to smoking, but there’s some confusion about whether they are actually legal and if so, whether they are subject to anti-smoking laws. The answer is not simple - lawmakers around the...
“You would think that a murder has taken place” – Police close down Sydney nightclub
NSW police raided Candy’s Apartment nightclub on Saturday night over allegations of drug supply and licensing breaches. Around 40 police officers poured out of unmarked buses and stormed the club, telling patrons to leave, as the venue was being closed down....
MDMA Can Cure PTSD: An Interview with Dr Stephen Bright
Most Australians think of MDMA as the illicit party drug ecstasy. Often it’s the main ingredient. However, an ecstasy pill will usually contain a range of substances, such as PMA, which mimics the effect of MDMA, but can be much...
Police Raid Newcastle Medical Marijuana Dispensary
As the use of medical marijuana is fast becoming accepted across Australia, NSW police raided a medicinal cannabis growing dispensary in Newcastle. Last Thursday, 215 plants were seized from a hydroponic operation run by a local group called the Church...
Free pill testing kits will be available at music festivals
Free pill-testing kits will flood Sydney’s music festivals this summer, despite Mike Baird refusing to formally implement the harm minimisation measure. Fed up with the government’s “unrealistic” zero-tolerance approach, drug reformists are taking matters into their own hands by vowing...
Harm Minimisation and Beyond: An Interview with Unharm’s Will Tregoning
Australia has a long history of harm minimisation. Since 1985, reducing the risks associated with drug use has formed the basis of the nation’s National Drug Strategy. Indeed, Australia has been a world leader in a field that acknowledges some...
Arrests, Illegal Searches and Drug Overdoses at Listen Out Music Festival
By Ugur Nedim Police and sniffer dogs were out in force as more than 25,000 revellers attended Sydney’s Centennial Park for this year’s Listen Out music festival over the weekend. Event organisers and police described the event as a success,...
