It is touted that the ACT will become a drug “fantasy land” following the decriminalization of nearly all illicit substances, including heroin, meth, cocaine, and LSD.
Australians are expected to flock to the nation’s capital for drug-driven escapades as the ACT becomes the first state in the country to decriminalize illicit drugs in small amounts.
ACT Chief Police Officer and Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said he expects herds of revelers to flock to Canberra when drug laws are relaxed on Oct. 28.
“It would be naive not to think that people won’t come down, even for a weekend, and do coke and not worry about the police,” Gaughanm told the newspaper. Heard Sun.
The warning has raised fears that the peaceful streets could turn into a cesspool of criminal activity, similar to parts of the United States where drug-addicted “zombies” roam the sidewalks.
The ACT could soon be overrun by drug-addicted revelers following the decriminalization of nearly all illegal substances, including heroin, meth, cocaine, and LSD (stock image pictured)
Last week, an image emerged showing the consequences of the fentanyl epidemic in Philadelphia in the US
Mr Gaughan said the new legislation from the ACT Labor-Greens government could lead to biker gang conflict, increased drug use and long-term mental health problems.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the rebels’ national flight to Canberra coincides almost on the day when the new laws are introduced,” Gaughan said.
“At the moment Canberra is pretty much a club town, namely the Comanchero, but we’ll see if that changes.”
The new legislation will decriminalize possession of a small amount of most drugs except fentanyl, with those in possession fined $100 or referred to counseling, and the drugs confiscated.
Last week, a disturbing photo laid out the grim reality of fentanyl, which could soon hit Australia as well as the US, where it has been called a “killer epidemic.”
In the photo, users of fentanyl — an opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine — in Philadelphia have been so badly affected that they’ve been likened to “zombies.”
Fentanyl is prescribed for illnesses such as chronic pain, cancer and surgery, but is increasingly used by addicts seeking a high and is sometimes cut short with heroin.
Authorities fear what will happen if the illegal version of fentanyl gains a foothold in places like Wagga Wagga and Dubbo in regional NSW, where the drug ice cream is already a major problem.
“If non-pharmaceutical fentanyl gets into these rural areas, it will destroy them,” Alex Caruana of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Association told news.com.au.
Mr Gaughan said he predicts many drug users in the ACT would simply factor the $100 fine into their total cost for a night out.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan (pictured) said the new legislation could lead to conflict between biker gangs, increased drug use and a high toll.
Concerns have been raised about the increase in motorcycle gang activity due to the ACT’s decriminalization laws
“The big difference is that if you get caught with coke or meth in Sydney, you’ll be charged with a criminal offense and have to go to court,” he says.
“Here (in the ACT) you get a $100 fine and if you pay it goes away.”
NSW High Police expect conflict on the streets of Sydney as new demand in the ACT puts pressure on drug supply lines from Sydney.
“There’s no doubt there will be trouble here,” a senior NSW officer told the Herald Sun.
“Obviously a new market for drugs will emerge and we know the suppliers are all mainly from Sydney and they will eventually fight for control.”
Mr Gaughin said the rest of the nation will be watching closely what unfolds after the decriminalization of the ACT.
“To be honest, we just don’t know what’s going to happen… I think we can assume we’re going to see an increase in drug use and we’re creating a more permissive environment to some extent.”
Mr Gaughan said one of the main concerns was the easing of possession of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice (stock image pictured)
Mr Gaughan said a major concern was the easing of possession of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice cream.
“Meth is highly addictive … so the concern is that people will use meth benders for four or five days, drive out and kill someone,” he said.
“Last year 18 people died, a 300 percent increase on the rolling average, and most of those people had meth or cannabis in their system.”
The ACT government has been caught bragging that the bill had been introduced under the radar, with Health Secretary Rachael Stephen-Smith telling a national Labor conference that they had ‘quietly’ pushed the legislation into the 2020 election and getting there quickly passed with the help of a private member bill. .
Under the new laws, decriminalized amounts of drugs that the ACT says would cost someone a $100 fine include 1.5 grams of cocaine, meth and MDMA, and 1 gram of heroin.
50 grams of cannabis, 1.5 grams of magic mushrooms and 0.001 grams of LSD are also fined $100.