The Offence of Supplying a Large Commercial Quantity of Prohibited Drugs in NSW
Two New South Wales men are facing charges for drug offences after police allegedly seized $12 million worth of crystal methamphetamine, or ‘ice’, and cocaine in Sydney’s South West over the weekend. Police allege the two men were arrested during...
Drug Busts Like Ironside Make No Substantial Impact
Charges continue to be laid against those arrested in relation to the nation’s “most significant” drug racket investigation, Operation Ironside. More than 250 arrests have been made, six drug labs were shut down, over 3.7 tonnes of illicit drugs were...
What are the Penalties for Prohibited Drug Offences in New South Wales?
The main piece of legislation in New South Wales which facilitates the prohibition of drugs is the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (‘the Act’). The main criminal offences contained in the Act are divided into two parts: Summary offences...
Tony Mokbel’s Drug Importation Charge Withdrawn
The fallout from the Lawyer X scandal continues in Victoria, with the Court of Appeal ordering a retrial for underworld kingpin Tony Mokbel despite him being acquitted last year. The back story Mr Mokbel was on bail during his jury...
Medicinal Cannabis Is Effective in Relieving Pain, According to Patients
Since the Turnbull government legalised the cultivation, production and distribution of medicinal cannabis effective October 2016, the estimated 100,000 Australians who’d already been using the medicine have had a rough time in accessing legal and affordable product. The medicinal cannabis...
Lawyers Call For Drug Law Reform: An Interview With ALA’s Greg Barns
“The war on drugs has failed” is a common catchphrase these days. Ever-increasing numbers within the community are coming to realise that the great edifice of heavily enforced drug prohibition is more destructive on a societal and individual level than...
Buprenorphine: Helping Prison Inmates to Stay Away from Illegal Drugs
Last year, New South Wales Corrective Services injected about 900 prison inmates a month with a view to keeping them away from illegal drugs. Injecting inmates with an opioid called Buprenorphine, or ‘Bupe’, is intended to help inmates who have...
Managing Problematic Behaviours: An Interview With Smart Recovery’s Josette Freeman
As it’s often said, the first step to recovery is admitting to yourself that you have a problem, while the second step is reaching out. And for many people, what springs to mind initially is 12 step recovery programs, such...
Reining in Police Powers: Shoebridge on His Drug Dog and Strip Search Bill
Over the last two years, unlucky commuters at Sydney’s Central Station have been confronted with NSW police officers accompanied by drug dogs. Deployed at peak hour, these officers have been equipped with screens, allowing them to strip search citizens if...
Berejiklian’s Drug Supply Regime Will Enhance Police Powers and Erode Individual Rights
Let’s face it, Gladys Berejiklian loves waging the war on drugs. When five young people died at NSW festivals over the summer of 2018/19, instead of implementing life-saving pill testing, she legislated for more ineffective prohibition laws, and attempted to...
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