As the rest of the world soften their drug laws, Australia is heading the opposite direction.
Roadside drug testing began in Victoria in 2014 and is now across the country. Tests are not only conducted via booze/ drug buses but from marked and unmarked patrol cars, police motorcycles and mobile intercepts. Hundreds of drivers have tested positive for marijuana despite almost two weeks after taking the drug. Some say they have even been punished after inhaling passive smoke, eating hemp seeds or rubbing hemp balm on their skin — which is perfectly legal.
Sydney last month over 150 people were denied entry to a music festival despite not carrying any drugs. If sniffer dogs “indicated” someone was carrying drugs, regardless of whether police actually found any drugs on them, they were denied entry.
Cannabis possession has been decriminalised in South Australia since 1987, newly elected conservative government is about to make the penalty for possession of marijuana the same as for heroin with fines up to $2000 and 2yrs prison. They justify this from a murder in 2012 when an 18yr old shot and killed a 17yr old. The shooter was drunk, on ecstasy and had smoked cannabis that day. Despite the coroner reporting the police missed multiple opportunities to prevent the shooting, cannabis is at fault.