Drug Free Australia welcomes the honesty of the UK paper `The Independent on Sunday" of 18 March 2007 in apologizing to its readers and the community for its earlier stance supporting the decriminalisation of cannabis.

In 1997 this newspaper launched a campaign to decriminalise the drug and was instrumental in gaining popular support for the outcome. In reversing its stand, the newspaper admits its campaign a decade ago, that culminated in a 16,000 strong pro-cannabis march to Hyde Park, was credited with forcing the Government to downgrade cannabis to a Category C drug.

In stating: “If only we had know then what we know now......." The UK paper is clearly admitting it got it wrong, and is to be commended for its honesty, says Drug Free Australia’s spokesperson Gary Christian.

“We call on all NSW politicians who support the decriminalisation of cannabis, to consider reversing their position. This is an opportune time, in light of next weekend’s state election”.

Drug Free Australia’s Executive Office, Jo Baxter is alarmed at the increase in marijuana use and warns that the Australian community and especially young people need to know how just lethal it really is.

“The road fatalities caused by cannabis-intoxicated drivers, links to cannabis and psychosis, increased potency and birth defects are just a few issues of enormous concern”, Ms Baxter said.

“Firstly, many national and international studies have found that drivers intoxicated with cannabis, pose a high risk of road accidents. For example a 10 year Victorian study found a 7 times risk of a fatal accident. Other studies clearly show that cannabis impairs car control, including the ability to stay in one lane, as well as slowing reaction time”.

“Secondly, highly respected medical practitioners in Australia and overseas have confirmed that cannabis use is linked to psychosis.
“A third concern is the fact that many in the pro-cannabis lobby deny that there has been an increase in potency over the past 20 years. This is quite erroneous, and sends the wrong messages to our youth. The current facts about cannabis induced psychosis and other matters, paint a damning picture of the drug as being most harmful.

In NSW, Drug Free Australia would urge the Labor Party, which has virtually decriminalised cannabis (via a poorly enforced drug user cautioning scheme) to take heed of the harm that is being done. With the Greens wanting drug legalisation, the cracks are really showing up in the system. We want all politicians act now, and completely reconsider their stance. We especially appeal to people of NSW to checkout the drug policies of the parties they are thinking of voting for.