Drug Law Reform Debate

Illicit drug use in Australia is a significant justice, health, economic and social welfare issue. Relaxation of drug laws has been proposed by a number of reform groups, criminologists and commentators in response to concerns that existing government policies and criminal sanctions have been a failure. Opponents claim that such a relaxation of laws, including decriminalisation and legalisation, will remove the deterrent effect and increase drug use and unleash even greater drug-related problems