The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), home of the capital city Canberra has become the first Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise illicit drugs in small quantities.
Laws passed the Territory’s parliament on Thursday, meaning people found with personal use amounts of nine different types of illicit drugs will not be criminally prosecuted.
Instead, they will be cautioned, fined or referred to a drug diversion program.
The substances decriminalised include heroin, cocaine and speed.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said focusing on harm-minimisation rather than punishing drug users was the way forward.
“The ACT has led the nation with a progressive approach to reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs with a focus on diversion, access to treatment and rehabilitation and reducing the stigma attached to drug use,” she said….