FFDLR

Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform


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Handing over petition

Today Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform is handing over a petition to Amanda Bresnan to present to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The petition is calling on the ACT Legislative Assembly to conduct a public debate on drug laws and policies, a debate based on evidence rather than on prejudice and self interest.

Our prohibition drug laws were never based on evidence or research but rather on false morality, racial prejudice and international pressure.

I was astonished to find this to be true when I asked why following my son’s death to a heroin overdose in 1992. A death, which like thousands of others, would not have occurred, if our laws and policies had been different.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, released in June this year, commissioned by many former heads of state, government ministers and high-ranking United Nations’ officials, made this comment:

Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won. Governments do have the power to pursue a mix of policies that are appropriate to their own situation, and manage the problems caused by drug markets and drug use in a way that has a much more positive impact on the level of related crime, as well as social harms. (end quote)

It is incumbent on our lawmakers to realise their full responsibility in all the actions they take, or don’t take, and all the possible flow on consequences. Politicians must realise how important their actions are in what happens to families and the whole of society through their decisions on drug policy.

In all these years since my son died I have not swayed from this conviction that our drug laws are unjust. It is the young and vulnerable who are sacrificed while the multi billion-dollar illegal drug industry continues to flourish.

On behalf of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform I hand this petition to you, Amanda, and ask you to take it to the ACT Assembly and I encourage and urge you to take the necessary action to initiate this debate.

The possibilities flowing from it could be quite significant. It could contribute to saving lives, reducing social costs, reducing crime and corruption, and save the ACT budget significant sums of money.

 

Marion McConnell

On behalf of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform

17/11/2011


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