00:00It was the state's second ever drug summit and hailed as a once-in-a-generation chance
00:07for reform.
00:08Our goal must be reducing the number of Australians whose lives have been destroyed or diminished.
00:14Now its recommendations are in.
00:16One of the most significant is an overhaul of the early diversion program for low-level
00:21possession.
00:22It gives police the choice to fine someone for their first and second offence rather
00:27than sending them to court.
00:29But the summit heard officers took the diversion option just 8% of the time.
00:33Among the report's priority actions is limiting police discretion with an assumption of diversion
00:38for personal use quantities.
00:41People whose only vice is to use an illicit drug are ending up with a criminal conviction
00:45and as a result their future employment and earnings prospects are damaged.
00:50In that case I think you'd have to say that the punishment is doing more harm than good.
00:55The government is urged to shorten the time convictions remain on criminal records and
00:59to legislate a legal defence for drivers using medicinal cannabis who test positive for the
01:04drug.
01:05It is completely unfair that they take a legitimate medicine and cannot drive even when they are
01:11unimpaired.
01:12Despite calls at the summit for decriminalisation, the report takes no stance on the controversial
01:17issue.
01:18The Premier had already ruled out such reform before the summit began, much to the frustration
01:22of many advocates.
01:24The recommendation of a drug checking trial is already underway, but the report urges
01:28the government to scrap sniffer dogs and strip searches during the pilot and consider extending
01:34this to all music festivals.
01:35What we need to see is the government immediately acting to implement these recommendations.
01:42The government is now mulling the findings.
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