MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL REJECTS CALL FOR DEBATE ON LEGALISING BANNED DRUGS

JOHN MASANAUSKAS CITY EDITOR Herald Sun June 10, 2014

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle was among councillors to oppose debating illcit drug regulation. Source: News Limited

 

MELBOURNE city councillors have dumped a controversial proposal for the council to debate the merits of legalising or decriminalising banned drugs. 

The council’s draft Safe City strategy called for the move under a section on minimising harm caused by drugs and alcohol.

But at tonight’s Future Melbourne committee meeting, councillors overwhelmingly voted to remove the item from the plan.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who was understood to be furious about its inclusion in the strategy, said: “I just oppose this idea.”

People City portfolio chair Cr Richard Foster, whose area covers the Safe City plan, said the council should play an advocacy role on the issue of illicit drug deregulation, but “I’m not convinced this is the place for it”.

“This is a conversation we do need to embark upon,” he said.

But Cr Arron Wood said he was dead against the decriminalisation of drugs such as ice, and he was concerned about the psychological impacts of marijuana use.

Only the two Greens councillors showed strong support for having a debate on the issue.

Cr Rohan Leppert said it was disappointing that the item had been removed from the strategy before it could go out for public consultation.

Cr Cathy Oke said: “There’s no harm in having a conversation.”

john.masanauskas@news.com.au

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-city-council-rejects-call-for-debate-on-legalising-banned-drugs/story-fni0fit3-1226949798127