WA Labor Proposes “Radical” Drug Rehab Prisons
Western Australian Labor leader Mark McGowan announced on Sunday, his party’s “radical” new plan to tackle the state’s “meth crisis.” The plan includes the establishment of two dedicated drug and alcohol rehabilitation prisons. The announcement of the Methamphetamine Action Plan comes...
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...
Police Claim Major Success in War on Drugs
“This job started with just a thread of information to the NSWPF’s Drug Squad two and a half years ago”, NSW Police Commissioner Mark Jenkins told a reporter. “That thread has helped us keep more than a tonne of illegal...
Neddy Smith: A Career in Crime
Standing at 6ft 6in, Arthur “Neddy” Smith – the infamous standover man - had a menacing aura. He was a leading underworld figure during the mid-1980s Sydney drug wars. And he drove fear into all he encountered. Today, the 72-year-old...
Santa Raids Drug Den
We all know Santa’s a good guy, but feelings are mixed about a police officer who dressed up in a Santa suit to conduct a drug raid in the Peruvian capital of Lima. The officer - whose identity has not...
“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...
Terminally Ill Victorians May Soon Have the Right to Die
Dying with dignity might become a reality for the terminally ill in Victoria, as end-of-life legislation is set to be introduced into state parliament in the second half of next year. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced on Thursday that all...
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...
