Drug law reform is occurring rapidly across the globe and locally. Twenty-three nations have decriminalised the and use of controlled drugs by law, and countless others have implemented 'defacto' regimes to minimise interactions between people who use drugs and the criminal justice system. We have also seen the legalisation of some previously substances, most commonly the legalisation of cannabis under various models across eleven countries.
However, there is a lack of consistency in the use of terms such as 'decriminalisation' and 'legalisation'. Decriminalisation regimes implemented globally can vary dramatically on the basis of what actions are decriminalised, whether punitive consequences remain following interactions with police and whether there are clear pathways to health and social services. Legalisation has also recently taken on a variety of different meanings with the rise of 'homegrow' cannabis legalisation models (such as in the ACT), which stands in contrast to the retail models implemented across the United States and Canada.
This Cracks in the Ice webinar was held on Friday March 15th 2024 and provided attendees with information about:
This information is relevant to people who use drugs, health workers, people interested in drug policy, and the general Australian community.
This webinar was presented by Jarryd Bartle, an Associate Lecturer within Criminology and Justice Studies at RMIT University. A former criminal lawyer and drug policy consultant, Jarryd specialises in legal issues relating to illicit drugs and sexuality, including the limits of consent under the criminal law.
Download the PDF handout for this webinar and watch the recording below: