Press Release – Greens Party NSW: Decriminalisation, pill testing, drug driving laws must be top of agenda for drug summit

Greens MP and drug law reform and harm reduction spokesperson Cate Faehrmann will attend the Lismore hearing of the drug summit today.

Cate will be pushing for key drug law reform measures as well as investment that reflects the needs of regional New South Wales, including for specialist drug treatment services and detox facilities.

“If the government is genuine about saving lives it will be open to the recommendations arising from this inquiry and respond to the experts and the evidence,” said Cate Faehrmann.

“New South Wales is dragging its heels when it comes to implementing sensible measures to reduce the harm from drugs and save lives.

“Proven harm reduction measures like pill testing are well and truly overdue and with the Australian illegal drug market being one of the most contaminated in the world we simply don’t have the luxury of another summer without it.

“We must also stop treating drug use as a crime and instead treat it as a health issue and one of individual, informed choice. Removing criminal penalties for drug use is something all the experts agree is long overdue and will make a significant difference to our resources in the justice system.

“Finally, our drug driving laws have not kept pace with progress in the changes to medicinal cannabis laws. At a bare minimum we must allow a defence for drivers who are unimpaired but have traces of their prescribed medicinal cannabis in their system detected at a roadside drug test,” said Cate Faehrmann.