The war on drugs has 'absolutely' failed, and should never have been fought, according to a Criminal Law expert from the Australian Defence Lawyers' Alliance.
"The idea that you say to 30 per cent of the population that their having at some stage used a drug means they're a criminal and that they should face the sort of harsh penalties that are meted out to people for drug-related crime is ridiculous," says Melbourne barrister Bill Doogue.
"I think that de-criminalising drug use is the only sensible course," he adds.
Earlier today, Foreign Minister Bob Carr lent his support to the idea of de-criminalising low-level drug use. The former NSW premier lost his brother, Greg, to a heroin overdose 30 years ago.
Mr Carr was responding to a think tank's report urging the government to completely overhaul the nation's drug policy.
It was a return to the stance Mr Carr had before his political career, according to Mr Doogue, and a welcome one, he said.
In his work with the Australian Defence Lawyers Alliance, Mr Doogue has represented numerous drug dealers.
One of his clients was concerned that drug use would be de-criminalised, Mr Doogue said, as it would badly affect his income.
That was exactly what the government should be aiming for, Mr Doogue said.
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