Originally Posted by
Blue Skies
The rationale for decriminalising marijuana which under the Misuse of Drugs Act is a crime & carries a sentence of up to $500 fine &/or 3 months in jail, is the harm from a conviction carrying a possible jail sentence in terms of overseas visas/travel, employment etc etc is out of all proportion to the harm caused by alcohol & tobacco.
Although marijuana is not without risk, esp with young people and mental health, cigarette smokers typically smoke between 10 - 30 cigarettes per day, whereas marijuana users typically smoke 1 or 2 joints per week.
There doesn't seem to be the same link to heart disease which is one of the biggest killers of smokers.
It does seem a bit ridiculous that alcohol which causes so much harm, & tobacco which kills half its users, both of which are chemically addictive, are available 24/7, yet the use or possession of marijuana ( which does not contain nicotine so is not chemically addictive) under present laws still carries a possible jail sentence.