The Facts on The Greens Drugs Policy

The Daily Telegraph has badly misrepresented the Greens' drug policy. The Greens do not support drug use and our policy does not condone people using the new drug known as 'ice'. The Greens policy supports criminal penalties for the big dealers and suppliers of drugs.

The major parties' policies have failed to prevent the growth in 'ice' use, dependency and addiction. There are now more than 37,000 regular methamphetamine users and 28,000 dependent methamphetamine users in NSW* and the number is growing rapidly. Prohibition has failed to protect the lives of young people.

The Greens believe that personal drug use should be ‘decriminalised’, which is very different to ‘legalised’
Our policy states:

“22. Remove criminal sanctions for personal drug use”

This means that people who are caught with small amounts of illegal substances won’t be charged as criminals (where they risk going to jail), but rather be directed towards counselling and treatment services, where they have a real chance of beating their addiction.

The Greens do not advocate the ‘legalisation’ of drugs
Our policy states:

“28. Retain and/or create criminal penalties for the unsanctioned production, importing or commercial supply of drugs”

Under Greens policy the production, manufacturing and dealing of ice would still be illegal, but we believe police resources would be more effective if they were targeted towards suppliers, not users.

The Greens believe that personal drug use should be treated as health and social issue not a 'law and order' issue
Our policy states:

“4. Personal drug use is best dealt with primarily as a health and social issue, given the evidence that prohibition is ineffective”

“11. Improve the effectiveness and capacity of the drug and alcohol treatment system through increased funding, improved facilities and enhanced staffing levels”

We need to make sure people can get access to treatment and counselling. However currently we do not have enough rehabilitation services because this money is going into law enforcement. The threat of criminal sanctions can be a barrier to seeking treatment.

The Greens strongly support education programmes that will prevent people using drugs
Our policy states:

“10. Develop strategies to specifically discourage drug-taking behaviours in children and young people”

What is needed are prevention initiatives that educate the target populations to the dangers of using drugs and effective and accessible treatment programs for dependent and addicted users.

[*NSW Parliamentary Library Report 2006]

Media Releases on The Greens Drugs Policy


Greens reject lies on drugs policy

Wednesday, 14 March 2007

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today rejected accusations that the Greens party supports the sale of the drug “ice” (crystal methamphetamine), laying the blame for the drug epidemic on the failed policies of the major parties.
Read More…

Greens challenge Iemma to debate ice

Wednesday, 14 March 2007

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has challenged Premier Iemma to a public debate about what is the appropriate response to the ice crisis in NSW.
Read More…

Labor should strengthen not hide its ice programs

Thursday, 15 March 2007

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on Premier Iemma to admit that he supports the Greens harm minimisation approach to ice and stop hiding his government’s innovative treatment and diversion programs for ice users.
Read More…





Media Comment

Dr Alex Wodak, the Director of Drug and Alcohol Services at St Vincent Hospital at Darlinghurst


VIRGINIA TRIOLI (ABC 702 presenter) : Do you think the Greens are on the right track here with their [drug] policy?


DR ALEX WODAK : Yes, I do. Yes I do … … the plain fact is that, whether we like it or not, the 'war on drugs' approach has failed, and failed miserably.


Transcript of Interview with Virginia Trioli Radio 702 ABC 15 March 2007

Nicholas Cowdery QC, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions


The war against terror is like the war against drugs, and I fear that it's as likely to be as successful as that particular war.


ABC PM Tuesday, 6 May, 2003 18:38

ABC Radio National The Law Report 1 January 2002

We're throwing more and more public resources at the law and order model of crime control and heroin control, and achieving nothing but alienating sections of society and locking up a good number of its members. 70% to 80% of prisoners in New South Wales jails are there because of drug or alcohol related crime.”

Royal Commissioner Supreme Court Justice James Wood


“I hope for people to look at the [drug] problem from every angle, from the law enforcement side and from the other side, the rehabilitation side. Something has to be done. It has to be a comprehensive solution, not just one side of the problem."


ABC 7:30 Report Transcript 17 May 1999

"The Ice Age": 4 Corners Special Presentation


Interactive broadband presentation on crystal methamphetamine


ABC 4 Corners broadcast 20 March 2006

Dr Fares Samara, MD, FAChAM

"As a specialist in this field, i wholeheartedly support the Green Party's policy on drugs and congratulate them for their courage and honesty... And also urge the other parties to have the same courage and adopt harm minimisation policies without hesitation."


Sun-Herald columnist  Peter FitzSimons


"Saying our drug laws are in urgent need of reform doesn't make the
Greens soft on drugs. It simply means they recognise the truth: the
system we have is a hopeless joke and only remains in place because
we haven't had politicians of sufficient courage to do anything to
change it."
Read more...


The Sun-Herald, p2, 18 March 2007