Decriminalising personal drug use

01 March 2023

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council Tasmania (ATDC) says the time is right for a community conversation about the decriminalisation of personal drug use in Tasmania.

Acting CEO Jackie Hallam said there was considerable interest around Australia in decriminalisation, and in Tasmania research on community attitudes from 2019 had revealed that the vast majority of people felt that the use of cannabis should not attract criminal penalties.

“While there is still considerable work to do on this issue, the ATDC has long advocated for the removal of criminal penalties for people who are found with small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use,” she said.

“An individual’s illicit drug use should be seen first and foremost as a health issue.

“A lot of people keep their use quiet out of shame or fear and don’t talk about it. If decriminalised, people will be more comfortable to seek health advice related to drugs.”

Dr Hallam said it was critical to note that any changes to how drug use and possession were addressed in Tasmania would have flow-on effects for support services.

“The capacity of these services to handle extra clients will need to be assessed and addressed prior to making any legislative change to decriminalise personal drug use,” she said.

Last year the ACT became the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise the possession, use and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis.

The ACT government then decriminalised small amounts of commonly used illicit drugs.

Under the ACT law, people found with small amounts of certain drugs that are considered to be personal possession are subject to fines rather than criminal charges.

Dr Hallam said alongside this legislative reform in the ACT was an increase in the investment in alcohol and other drug treatment services.

“This was a critical and vital component of the changes introduced,” she said.

In 2019/20, there were 166,321 drug arrests in Australia, including 2,790 in Tasmania – the vast majority of whom (85 per cent) were charged with use, possession or administering a drug for their own personal use.

Dr Hallam said decriminalisation was not the same as legalisation.

“Under a decriminalisation model that we would support, it would still be a criminal offence to produce illicit drugs and to traffic them,” she said.

Available for interview:

Jackie Hallam – Acting CEO, ATDC – 0438 347 056

Media contact:

Nicolas Turner – 0418 538 865

Dr Jackie Hallam
Chief Executive Officer
Jackie’s career path reveals a lifelong learner, always searching for, and interrogating, contemporary evidence-based knowledge to drive policy and research work for the ATDC. Jackie enjoys applying this skill when collaborating on strategy, thinking about systems and problem solving generally.
Read more
✖
Dr Jackie Hallam
Jackie’s career path reveals a lifelong learner, always searching for, and interrogating, contemporary evidence-based knowledge to drive policy and research work for the ATDC. Jackie enjoys applying this skill when collaborating on strategy, thinking about systems and problem solving generally. Jackie is committed to alcohol and other drug subject matter demonstrated through a rich tapestry of experience in roles such as researcher, frontline work in needle and syringe programs, program evaluation and now in the policy role she has held since 2016. In more recent years Jackie has become well practiced at people management and loves to be part of a team – especially a team like this one at the ATDC. Working with Alison and the team is a career highlight and she feels like the team has hit a ‘sweet spot’ with the current mix of skills and talents, underpinned by strong shared values. Jackie would love to see a time when there are sophisticated conversations about alcohol and other drugs. In her words “…drugs have long been used by humans, it is time that we stop discriminating against people who use. Most people use alcohol and or drugs with minimal harm or disruption to their lives, but there exist some who experience way more harm- why is that?” Career highlight:
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania, 2006 – ‘Rise and Stall of Harm Reduction Policy in Australia, 1980 – 2000’
You can find Jackie on LinkedIn here. You can contact Jackie here.

Are you looking for help and support services for alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in Tasmania?

Service Directory

Tasmanian Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Communications Charter

All aspects of communication, including images, have the power to reduce stigma for people who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and their families, and encourage people to seek help when they need it.

Sign on to the charter