Social Impacts of the Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme in South Australia Report.

Presented to the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy May 1998.

In 1998 the Social Impacts of the Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme in South Australia reports were released which compared the SA Cannabis Expiation Notice system ("prohibition with civil penalty") to Western Australia's "total prohibition" approach.

The report details some interesting findings and concluded that SA's laws are:
more appropriate, more cost effective and have less of a social impact than the "prohibitionist" laws in WA.

HOW DO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN C.E.N. LAWS (the on-the-spot fines) COMPARE WITH TOTAL PROHIBITION?

Waddya Reckon? Surprise, surprise, SA laws come out on tops (despite the many flaws) even though the reports' authors do not directly compare all of the results in the study. When done so the significant differences in legal approaches becomes obvious.

Despite (or perhaps because of) WA's more punitive laws, WA comes out higher on every single indicator measured.

RATES OF CANNABIS USE COMPARED BETWEEN STATES
(South Australia VS Western Australia)

WA's tougher" Total prohibition" laws only seem to increase the rates of use.
WA's rates of Cannabis usage was higher in every catagory.

WA's tougher "total prohibition" laws obviously do not deter people from trying or using Cannabis.
They also breed disrespect for, and distrust in the Police and the law in general.

Source: Makkai & McAllister. Marijuana in Australia: Patterns and Attitudes, NDS Monograph No31. 1997, pp49-59) Social Impacts of the Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme in South Australia, 1998, Ali, et al., pp22-25).

Cannabis - Social Impact Study Monograph Series

On the 4 May 1998, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy passed a resolution to publish the final summary report and various technical papers, arising from the Social Impacts of Cannabis Studies research.

The papers have been published under the National Drug Strategy Monograph series. Papers from this study are also being published by the Drug and Alcohol Services Council (Adelaide, South Australia) and the National Centre for Research into the Prevention of Drug Abuse, Curtin University of Technology (Perth, Western Australia).

The research involved an investigation, which aimed to compare the social impacts of the two main models found in Australia for dealing with minor cannabis offences: total prohibition, and prohibition with civil penalties.

Western Australia was chosen as an example of the total prohibition approach to minor cannabis offences, and South Australia, with it Cannabis Expiation Notice scheme, was chosen as an example of prohibition with civil penalties.

The Department of Health and Aged Care as a result of the research findings has published the following monographs on the Department of Health and Aged Cares - Population Health's Division website:

Monograph 34 - The Social Impacts of the Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme.

Monograph 35 - Cannabis Offences under the Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme in South Australia.

Monograph 36 - Infringement versus Conviction: the Social Impact of a Minor Cannabis Offence under a Civil Penalties System and Strict Prohibition in Two Australian States.

Monograph 37 - Effects of Cannabis Expiation Notice Scheme on Level and Patterns of Cannabis Use in South Australia: Evidence from the National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 1985-1995.

Monograph 38 - A Review of Law Enforcement and Other Criminal Justice Attitudes, Policies and Practices regarding Cannabis and Cannabis Law in South Australia.

For copies of the above Monographs contact:
Department of Health and Aged Care
Population Health Division
Publications Distribution Officer
on (02) 6289 8654

or visit the Population Health Division Publications List .