SYDNEY, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Drugs should be decriminalized Australia-wide, according to a new report released on Monday, as part of sweeping reforms in the laws surrounding their use.
The report, created from the results of a 2015 roundtable summit, took into consideration the views and beliefs of four former police commissioners, legal advocates, doctors, and other leading experts; and was launched Monday by two former premiers, Bob Carr of New South Wales, and Jeff Kennett of Victoria, at the NSW Parliament House.
The Australia 21 report outlined 13 key recommendations that concern the minimization of harm as a result of drugs, along with easing the burden on the currently overworked criminal justice system.
One of the contributors to the report, former Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery said he believes that prohibition of drugs is a failure.
"Drug prohibition is a failed policy, not only a failure, but counter-productive in that it actually causes additional harms by way of disease, death, crime and corruption and adverse health and personal and social consequences for drug users," Cowdery said.
"The solution is to remove the illicit profits by regulating, controlling and taxing drug supply."
Former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney also weighed in on the report, and said that he has concerns over the efficacy of law enforcement in dealing with habitual drug users.
"I am sceptical that we can arrest our way out of this problem," Moroney said.
"I think we need to consider alternatives to incarceration and for those who are incarcerated, explore how we ensure that they do not rejoin and remain on the gaol merry-go-round."
A 2014 United Nations World Drug Report found that Australia is leading the world in the use of ecstasy, the third in methamphetamine use, and fourth in the world for cocaine use per capita.
