A NEW WORKING group has been formed by the Minister for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy to look into alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use.

Currently, possession of any amount of banned narcotic can result in arrest and if convicted a fine and/or imprisonment.

The working group will look into an alternative approach to this system, in an attempt to move towards a model of health-focused harm reduction in the state’s drug policy.

One such approach could be the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use. This would mean that it is still illegal to sell drugs and possess large quantities, but that anyone caught in possession of smaller amounts would not be convicted.

Advocates of this approach argue that it will greatly reduce the number of criminal convictions for drug addicts or other low level users, targeting instead people involved in supply.

Detractors argue that people should be punished for possessing any amount of illegal substance.

But what do you think?

Today we’re asking, Should illegal drugs be decriminalised for personal use?