More taxpayers moneys down the shitter as there’s yet another pointless drug chat fest in Australia.
Chris Minns is determined to grow the black market until it is entirely ungovernable so he can then get re-elected on a law and order ticket and NSW Police get a healthy upgrade on their let’s chase cannabis baddies budget. As usual he has a mandate for most things having won government but not a mandate to deal with cannabis seriously
When will these people grow up?
At least some restaurants in NSW country town Griffith will make some money
For those of you on NSW Govt, university and other junket like behaviour you’ll be wanting to know where to spend other people’s money here’s a great article in Australian Gourmet Traveller
7 Griffith restaurants leading the way in farm-to-table dining
https://www.australiantraveller.com/nsw/riverina/where-to-eat-in-griffith/
Anybody knows that with regard to Griffith it’s somewhat ironic that cannabis won’t be discussed seriously considering the region’s past history with the plant
Then they are off to Lismore a stones throw from the epicentre of Australian cannabis culture.. you literally couldn’t make this stuff up
The ABC
Ask any government minister and they’ll tell you they’re keeping an open mind ahead of the long-awaited drug summit, which starts today.
Health Minister Ryan Park has vowed to listen to expert evidence and act quickly.
“What I don’t want to do … is pre-empt outcomes that might be in place,” he said.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley also said she was heading to the summit in Griffith without any preconceived outcomes in mind.
“I’m not going to get ahead of myself, we will be looking at this holistically,” she said.
And the premier says he won’t put the “cart before the horse.”
“We want to challenge the prevailing system,” he said ahead of the summit.
However, there’s one idea Chris Minns has lost his political appetite for: legalising cannabis.
“We don’t have a mandate for that,” he said.
“We didn’t go to the election promising it. It would be a big change in New South Wales.”
Premier unwilling to risk ‘soft on drugs’ badge
The idea of legalising cannabis is hardly a new one.
In opposition, the premier argued in favour of the concept, saying the state could regulate its sale and deprive criminal gangs of an important source of revenue.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has already poured water on the idea of legalising cannabis in the state. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
On Thursday, a parliamentary inquiry recommended a major rethink of the state’s approach towards cannabis and, in this term of parliament, begin a gradual relaxation of rules that could pave the way for its complete legalisation.
Three Labor MPs were on the committee, chaired by Jeremy Buckingham from the Legalise Cannabis Party.
However, the premier is so wary of an opposition attack labelling him “soft on drugs” that he’s poured cold water on the idea before the summit has even begun.
“I can’t introduce a policy of that magnitude without asking for voter support, and as a result of that, I’ve got to manage expectations.
“That’s not on [the government’s] agenda.”
Government more receptive to drug-driving changes
Chris Minns says access to cannabis has “radically changed” since he first took an interest in this issue as a backbencher.
Hundreds of thousands of people now have prescriptions for medical cannabis, he says.
However, despite having those prescriptions, they face the prospect of a criminal charge if they fail a roadside drug test.
Hundreds of thousands of people are said to have prescriptions for medical cannabis. (ABC News: Matilda Marozzi)
The same parliamentary inquiry recommended a defence be established for medicinal cannabis so that people with prescriptions can avoid punishment, as long as their driving isn’t impaired.
The premier says it’s only “reasonable” for the government to listen to experts and make a decision after the summit.
However, the police minister has previously argued that any amount of cannabis leads to driver impairment.
“You are considered impaired, so you’re impaired,” Yasmin Catley said in September.
Read more here
Here’s the NSW Govt feelgood spend press release ahead of the summit
$9.8 million for treatment services in Murrumbidgee as Drug Summit begins in Griffith
The NSW Government has pledged $9.84 million for alcohol and other drug treatment services in the Murrumbidgee region as the Drug Summit begins in Griffith, including:
- $3.6 million for new post-custodial support programs to be provided by Directions Health and RivMed (Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation);
- $2 million to deliver a community-based withdrawal management, case management and counselling service for vulnerable populations through Directions Health; and
- $4.24 million to rollout a new youth day program and counselling service through Karralika.
Post-custodial support
Post-custodial support is designed to help promote reintegration into the community and reduce the risk of drug dependency and reincarceration for vulnerable community members.
Support starts before they leave custody and continuing for 12 months, providing improved long-term health and social outcomes.
Withdrawal and case management, counselling
Community-based withdrawal management, case management and counselling for priority groups will be provided through Directions Health.
Directions Health provides a range of free, integrated services and programs for individuals, family members and friends, impacted by alcohol and other drugs.
Services will be offered in person, and through virtual care.
Counselling for young people
This will be used to roll out a new youth day program and counselling service that includes group and individual support, and in-person and virtual care.
Young people aged 12-17 years and young adults aged 18-24 years will be eligible.
It is expected the program will support up to 100 young people each year.
Drug Summit begins in Griffith
The 2024 Drug Summit is officially underway in NSW, with the first regional forum taking place in Griffith today.
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park is attending the forum in Griffith, which will build on the NSW Government’s commitment to improving the prevention, minimisation and treatment of alcohol and drug related harm.
The Drug Summit will include two more forums, which will be held in Lismore on 4 November and in Sydney on 4 and 5 December, bringing together health experts, police, people with lived and living experiences, drug user organisations, families and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“The Drug Summit will reflect the experiences and expertise from a diverse range of perspectives – we will all contribute, we will all listen and then we will all act.
“I am so pleased to be able to announce this important investment into these life changing services which will mean so much to so many people in this region.
“Substance use can be a confronting and challenging issue, which is why it’s so important we continue to support community organisations such as Karralika and Directions Health in the essential work they do.
“These organisations work hand-in-hand with Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s drug and alcohol services, to provide non-judgemental support, advice and treatment options for all members of our community.
“The summit will cover a range of matters from prevention, to harm minimisation, but treatment is equally as important, and I’m so glad that we’re able to expand access to it in this part of the world.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Murray Helen Dalton:
“I’m so pleased residents in the Murrumbidgee region are set to benefit from this major funding boost, which will provide more specialist, personalised and holistic care to individuals and families impacted by alcohol and other drug use.
“I look forward to today’s forum in Griffith which will help us better understand how drug use impacts our communities and provide insight into how we can improve drug related health and community outcomes.”
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20241101_00.aspx
