Greens reject lies on drugs policy
March 15th, 2007Greens MP Lee Rhiannon yesterday rejected accusations that The Greens party supports the sale of the drug “ice” (crystal methamphetamine), instead laying the blame for the drug epidemic on the failed policies of the major parties.
“The allegation in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph that the Greens policy would allow people to buy unlimited amounts of the deadly drug ‘ice’ is totally false,” Ms Rhiannon said.
“The Greens policy does not support unlimited supply of any drug, least of all crystal methamphetamine.”
Greens policy is clear. The way to deal with the ‘ice’ epidemic is to go after the big dealers. Locking up individual users will not remove this deadly drug from our streets, nor will it reduce the alarming prevalence of ice use and dependency.
The Iemma government has failed to deal with the increased use of ‘ice’.
The use of crystal methamphetamine has increased during the term of the Iemma/Carr government. There are now more than 17,700 regular methamphetamine users and 14,700 dependent methamphetamine users in Sydney and the number is growing rapidly.
The drug policies of the Labor government are failing to deal with the ‘ice’ epidemic.
What is needed are prevention initiatives that educate the target populations to the dangers of using the drug and effective and accessible treatment programs for dependent and addicted users.
Investment in rehabilitation and drug counselling, especially within the gaol system, would be much more effective than heavy criminal sanctions on users which have failed to control the epidemic.
The Greens policy supports penalties for the commercial supply of drugs and identifies the need to create penalties as they are required.
This attack on the Greens is an election scare tactic which will distract from the urgent task of protecting young people from ice.
The Greens do not support drug use and our policy does not condone people using the new drug known as ‘ice’. The Greens policy states: ‘The Greens policy does not encourage drugs use. And, ‘Retain and/or create criminal penalties for the unsanctioned production, importing or commercial supply of drugs.’
“This is the third election where the Daily Telegraph has seriously misrepresented the Greens’ policy to reduce the damage drug use does in our society,” Ms Rhiannon said.
