Policies/Drugs

The Pirate Party proposes that management of drugs be shifted into the public health arena through a combination of legalisation and decriminalisation.

Legalise safe, non-addictive drugs.

 * A controlled substances committee will be established. The committee will meet periodically and will be tasked with several activities as specified below.
 * The committee members will be healthcare professionals assembled for this purpose and strive to make fact-based decisions.
 * Psychoactive substance classification will be amended to conform to criteria such as:
 * Addictive properties
 * Habituating properties
 * Perception impairment
 * Reversible impact on the user
 * Known therapeutic properties
 * Re-classification will be performed periodically by the controlled substances committee.
 * Substances which are non-addictive and have a reversible impact on the user will be legalised, i.e. removed from any schedule that prohibits their use.
 * Marijuana      will be made available subject to appropriate health warnings and quality assurance.
 * The committee will be able to recommend conditions for obtaining legalised substances, such as requiring a psychological evaluation, etc.
 * Legalised drugs will be taxed.
 * Tax rates will be set at a level which balances the need to manage health impacts with the need to provide financial incentives to avoid the black market.
 * Sales will be regulated.
 * Retailers will require licenses (as per conditions for selling alcohol)
 * Products will include mandatory warnings on health risks as recommended by manufacturers and relevant government bodies
 * Products will be restricted to sale in limited quantities, and may not be sold to intoxicated persons
 * All forms of advertising will be banned.
 * Products will be subject to strict quality control, with penalties for poor product quality being equivalent to those currently applied to pharmaceuticals.
 * Age verification will be required for all drug sales.
 * Exports will be controlled.
 * Exports to countries where drugs remain illegal will be a criminal offence unless products are sold under license to authorities in those countries that are legally permitted such purchases.
 * Minors will be protected.
 * Making drugs available to minors will be a criminal offence.

Partially decriminalise drugs which fail to meet the threshold for legalisation.

 * Decriminalisation will apply to possession, purchase and consumption of small quantities of drugs for personal use.
 * Small quantities will be defined as a 14-day supply.
 * Infractions will be handled outside the criminal justice system, with preference given to the application of civil penalties including confiscation of drugs and treatment recommendations. Treatment may be imposed as part of a prosecution if other civil or criminal acts are committed by a person under the influence of drugs.
 * Users who work in professions with professional duty of care to others may face suspension of their right to practice under civil law.
 * Penalties for the sale of small quantities of decriminalised drugs will include fines and confiscation of products under civil law.
 * Criminal sanctions will continue to apply for possession, sale or smuggling of substances in commercial quantities.
 * Decriminalised drugs may be made available under prescription.
 * Supply would be procured following medical consultation in instances where harm minimisation or addiction treatment requires it, or as a mechanism for reducing black market purchasing.
 * Chemists providing drugs will be required to provide dosage levels, toxicity information, and information about side effects, as per standard requirements for medication.

Redirect existing resources and additional revenue to fund more research and support services.

 * Expand mental health services, rehabilitation facilities, and programs to assist addicts with social re-integration.
 * Persons seeking treatment will be entitled to protection of their privacy as per a doctor-patient relationship.
 * Adopt harm minimisation techniques.
 * Pharmacies will be encouraged to make clean needles and drug testing kits available.
 * Redirect police and prison resources towards preventing violent crime.
 * Curb the use of sniffer dogs and random "inspections" at public events.
 * Undo restrictions on research and data collection imposed during prohibition.
 * Re-start research programs utilising previously banned drugs.
 * Re-start data collection on drug use and drug effects.