I've been waiting for someone in Australian Politics to see sanely on this issue. As human beings we have the right to use drugs if we wish, but the government believes we can't look after ourselves so they have to regulate what we can and can't have.
It turns ordinary hard-working Australians that enjoy a relaxing substance (other than alchohol and tobacco) after work into criminals.
We need a progressive government, not a regressive nanny-state government that tries to ban everything.
wow, a political video with senseible comments, impressive. I'm all for the greens, while I question some of their policies, this is not a problem as they will not form a government for many years to come. What is important is that they hold a stronger presence in the senate so that they can help keep the government honest.
Great policy. Sane approach. Prohibition always fails, and fails expensively. The only winners in the current situation are the thugs in criminal syndicates who profit from drugs and the thugs in law enforcement who get paid to harass mostly innocent people while they become corrupt enforcing a law that is unenforcable to stop a crime the victims actively approve of.
This is my number one reason for voting greens ,If this brings down the misconceptions about most drugs (marijuana in particular) thats all they need for my vote and practically everyone of my open minded friends.
Legalize, regulate and tax bring in money for the people and create a more accepting Australia and stop following in Americas footsteps..because their war on drugs has worked sooo well........
I am all for decriminization (except that it still strengthens organized crime), so legalization is better.
I am a long term Greens party voter at the federal level. If the Greens party directs preferences to the Liberal Party in a single federal seat (next elections), I will never vote for the Greens again. The Labor Party may not seem to be much better than the liberals, but they are infinitely preferable.
For once some truth in politics! Drug use and addiction should not be a criminal offense. If someone is addicted to drugs it needs to be treated as a medical issue, not a criminal one.
Forcing drug addicts into places filled with criminals, with no help for their addiction does nothing but force them into crime, and doesn't solve their drug problem.
Please for the love of all that is good and green, vote Greens in 2010.
Please help Australia. Compared to what is available OS Aust. is overly restrictive and QLD more so. Most countries have a wide selection of legal highs available but, in Aust. most things that are legal OS are illegal here. This restrics the Australian consumer choices to alcohol or illegal drugs. Making everything illegal just breeds another class of criminal. Even kava has been restricted, sativa plant is class A. and party pills available in UK are illegal here. Most r mail order world wide.
The USA is the world leader in the zero tolerance based "war on drugs" - the justification they give is that drugs are harmful.
The USA however is the worlds largest exporter of Tobacco - the addictive drug which is responsible for the vast majority of the worlds drug related harm.
Im a Democrat and I think the Greens have been copping it unfairly on this issue as the Libs go once again for the easy over simplified and populist "drugs are bad mmmkay, we are tough on drugs" slogan.
Everyone should consider the Greens & Democrats this election, they don't come out with the same old populist bullshit. At least they come out with real new ideas and problem solving and will support good policy regardless of populist sentiment.
The Australian is now giving Howard publicity on how Greens + ALP = free drugs. How about the preference deal the Coalition and their attack dog buddies, Family First, have struck with the LDP, which sees drug use as a "victimless crime" and therefore to be condoned.
Letum, that proves the Democrats are just as happy for the Coalition to win office as the ALP. However, the liberals is bullying every other party, even the nationals. the fact is voters don't want a split ticket everywhere, they want labor preferenced. As is such the case, Vote greens 1.
sgt kicker, the Greens have preferenced Labor ahead of the Coalition in 99% of the seats in Australia. The 1% where there is a split ticket is for the supporting of the damning pulp mill and dam.
What you can do is vote 1 Green, and 2 Labor. You can preference Green 1 and labor 2 anywhere you go, that's the beauty of preferential voting, just vote blow the line.
Or you can vote for the Australian Democrats who have split their ticket so niether Labor or Liberal benifit from Preferences. I'd rather vote for the real deal anyway!
sgtkicker111, you can preference whoever you like. If you support the Greens, it's really important for us that you vote 1 Greens and then allocate your preferences to Labor. That will have exactly the same impact in terms of voting against the Howard Government.
'Just say no', 'Tough on drugs' ... we've heard the shrill debate from politicians for far too long. And guess what? They spend millions on these campaigns for zero gains. The Greens policies are the only ones that actually work. Ask any expert.
Go the Greens. It's about time that we had a serious discussion about drugs - the Greens policy is the most sensible of all the parties because it's based on expert opinions.
Nice work. And check out the Australian Senate report on the "Australian Crime Commission Committee inquiry into amphetamines and other serious drugs" from last year. All parties except Family First (what planet are they on?) agreed that harm reduction was the only way forward.
A government which designs it's policies on the basis of scientific studies? Sounds too good to be true.
MisleadGuidance 1 year ago
I've been waiting for someone in Australian Politics to see sanely on this issue. As human beings we have the right to use drugs if we wish, but the government believes we can't look after ourselves so they have to regulate what we can and can't have.
It turns ordinary hard-working Australians that enjoy a relaxing substance (other than alchohol and tobacco) after work into criminals.
We need a progressive government, not a regressive nanny-state government that tries to ban everything.
coylesolid 1 year ago
wow, a political video with senseible comments, impressive. I'm all for the greens, while I question some of their policies, this is not a problem as they will not form a government for many years to come. What is important is that they hold a stronger presence in the senate so that they can help keep the government honest.
Ricki145 1 year ago
Great policy. Sane approach. Prohibition always fails, and fails expensively. The only winners in the current situation are the thugs in criminal syndicates who profit from drugs and the thugs in law enforcement who get paid to harass mostly innocent people while they become corrupt enforcing a law that is unenforcable to stop a crime the victims actively approve of.
formless777 1 year ago 2
This is my number one reason for voting greens ,If this brings down the misconceptions about most drugs (marijuana in particular) thats all they need for my vote and practically everyone of my open minded friends.
Legalize, regulate and tax bring in money for the people and create a more accepting Australia and stop following in Americas footsteps..because their war on drugs has worked sooo well........
brn932 1 year ago
I am all for decriminization (except that it still strengthens organized crime), so legalization is better.
I am a long term Greens party voter at the federal level. If the Greens party directs preferences to the Liberal Party in a single federal seat (next elections), I will never vote for the Greens again. The Labor Party may not seem to be much better than the liberals, but they are infinitely preferable.
Many others feel the same as I do.
BassPhat 1 year ago 2
For once some truth in politics! Drug use and addiction should not be a criminal offense. If someone is addicted to drugs it needs to be treated as a medical issue, not a criminal one.
Forcing drug addicts into places filled with criminals, with no help for their addiction does nothing but force them into crime, and doesn't solve their drug problem.
Please for the love of all that is good and green, vote Greens in 2010.
2edsajdmsa 1 year ago 2
they get my vote
UniversalVideos 1 year ago
The Greens seem to be the only party that looks at the drug issues realistically.
raulmelancholy 2 years ago 2
Please help Australia. Compared to what is available OS Aust. is overly restrictive and QLD more so. Most countries have a wide selection of legal highs available but, in Aust. most things that are legal OS are illegal here. This restrics the Australian consumer choices to alcohol or illegal drugs. Making everything illegal just breeds another class of criminal. Even kava has been restricted, sativa plant is class A. and party pills available in UK are illegal here. Most r mail order world wide.
borstsalami 3 years ago
he sounds so nervous.
nowonmedication900 3 years ago
The USA is the world leader in the zero tolerance based "war on drugs" - the justification they give is that drugs are harmful.
The USA however is the worlds largest exporter of Tobacco - the addictive drug which is responsible for the vast majority of the worlds drug related harm.
Spocko000 4 years ago 4
Im a Democrat and I think the Greens have been copping it unfairly on this issue as the Libs go once again for the easy over simplified and populist "drugs are bad mmmkay, we are tough on drugs" slogan.
Everyone should consider the Greens & Democrats this election, they don't come out with the same old populist bullshit. At least they come out with real new ideas and problem solving and will support good policy regardless of populist sentiment.
symolie 4 years ago 9
You're joking right? Democrats! Give up.
symons3569 2 years ago
The Australian is now giving Howard publicity on how Greens + ALP = free drugs. How about the preference deal the Coalition and their attack dog buddies, Family First, have struck with the LDP, which sees drug use as a "victimless crime" and therefore to be condoned.
philipmach 4 years ago
USA 1914: 1.3% of population addicted to drugs
USA 1970: 1.3% of population addicted to drugs
USA 2005: 1.3% of population addicted to drugs
USA 1914-2005: trillion dollars spent fighting drugs
USA 2006: 1.9 million incarcerated for nonviolent drug offences
Surely Australia can take a more reasonable, harm minimisation position instead of the US War on Drugs position
JohnHuntCoward 4 years ago 18
You're a champ Richard! You've got my vote! Go Greens!
Whanous 4 years ago
Letum, that proves the Democrats are just as happy for the Coalition to win office as the ALP. However, the liberals is bullying every other party, even the nationals. the fact is voters don't want a split ticket everywhere, they want labor preferenced. As is such the case, Vote greens 1.
niwana 4 years ago
sgt kicker, the Greens have preferenced Labor ahead of the Coalition in 99% of the seats in Australia. The 1% where there is a split ticket is for the supporting of the damning pulp mill and dam.
What you can do is vote 1 Green, and 2 Labor. You can preference Green 1 and labor 2 anywhere you go, that's the beauty of preferential voting, just vote blow the line.
niwana 4 years ago 2
Or you can vote for the Australian Democrats who have split their ticket so niether Labor or Liberal benifit from Preferences. I'd rather vote for the real deal anyway!
LetumAngelus 4 years ago
i was going to vote greens but they are not going with labor in my area so it look like i will be voting labor.
anything is better than more of howard.
sgtkicker111 4 years ago
sgtkicker111, you can preference whoever you like. If you support the Greens, it's really important for us that you vote 1 Greens and then allocate your preferences to Labor. That will have exactly the same impact in terms of voting against the Howard Government.
AustralianGreens 4 years ago 9
Refreshing to see compassion in politics. Go Greens!
troppochook 4 years ago
'Just say no', 'Tough on drugs' ... we've heard the shrill debate from politicians for far too long. And guess what? They spend millions on these campaigns for zero gains. The Greens policies are the only ones that actually work. Ask any expert.
jimbuckell 4 years ago 2
Go the Greens. It's about time that we had a serious discussion about drugs - the Greens policy is the most sensible of all the parties because it's based on expert opinions.
MiaMKelly 4 years ago
Nice work. And check out the Australian Senate report on the "Australian Crime Commission Committee inquiry into amphetamines and other serious drugs" from last year. All parties except Family First (what planet are they on?) agreed that harm reduction was the only way forward.
scrubba777 4 years ago 2
The more the campaign goes on, the more it seems the Greens are the only way to go...
dinesheo 4 years ago