The legalisation of certain drugs is an issue that Australia has tried to find a solution to for many years. Throughout history certain drugs have become legal, while others remain illegal. In the United States, 1880's ¥cocaine was the drug of choice and was a key ingredient in Coca Cola until 1903. Opium use was also widespread, predominantly by middle-class women who obtained it through a doctor's prescription. Ironically, the intake of opium was deemed to be fashionable to the point where one of every 400 Americans became addicted.' (Evans and Berent, p. 160). With the knowledge that certain drugs become addictive legalisation and policies in Australia is an issue that needs attention as addictions are not the only reason have occurred because of certain drugs. There are many complications in different areas that can be associated with drugs. These issues, crime, economical and health, influences on how Australia as a whole is currently dealing with legal and illegal drugs. Legislation and policies are made taking the history of certain drugs into consideration.

Throughout history Australia has had to deal with licit and illicit dugs. When th

Looking back through history the legislation and policies that apply for illegal and legal drugs in Australia for today's society has much to do with problems that have come about with legalisation. ¥It is a product of 20th century statutory developments, based on fundamental changes in attitudes to drug use among some sections of the community to those which had earlier prevailed' (p21 reader). Although S.A, A.C.T and N.T jurisdictions have introduced infringement notice or expiation schemes, under the Drugs and Dependence Act 1989 (ACT); Controlled Substances Amendment Act 1986 (Brown. D, Farner. D, Egger. S and McNamara. L, p13 reader) there are specific laws that allow users to cultivate plants, posses cannabis, for personal use. A limited amount is given but the difference with other states is that schemes have been made. It will take many years to see the effects that marijuana schemes may have on Australian.

e word ¥drugs' is used most Australians think of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, even some prescribed drugs, mostly illegal use of harmful substances are considered to be drugs. In reality drugs can be harmful or medical depending on the substance and how it is used. A drug such as alcohol (which is used to drink V recreational) can be administered as a medical use also but it can also be a harmful drug. Harmful in the sense that addictions can be created, death and crimes have been associated with the drug. Some drugs can produce benefits as well as harms. The only way to completely avoid harms is to eliminate drug use but, as the United States experiment with alcohol prohibition clearly demonstrated, it is impossible to completely eliminate psychoactive drug use. (Hamilton, Kellehear, Rumbold, p 14). This does not mean that in Australia, we do not fight against what is currently a legal drug. Alcohol is legal for adult's 18 years and over to obtain, to sell (with a liquor licence) and to drink. The fight against alcohol is not the same as heroin and other illicit drugs. In the last century the ¥first liquor act to be adopted by the then colonial legislature contained a single offence: ¥disorderly conduct in keeping the licensed house'. This act was more for how the licensed house was kept. ¥The next year this was supplemented by the note that: ¥death by intoxication shall void a license.' Meaning that a person that died because of intoxication could not obtain a death license. ¥ Turn of the century campaigning for either tight controls on the sale, supply and public consumption of alcohol or total prohibition. By the end of the 20th century, the control of the number of liquor licenses, the restriction of opening hours, the prescription of licensing standards, the prescription of strict operation rules and qustere environs of drinking places had long been establish as the primary objectives of liquor laws. (Stockwell, p.40). As more information is gathered about what happens with alcohol new laws get made to try and control. Not only is the situation of licenses a issue there is also crimes that are committed because of alcohol, crimes such as drink driving, physical and verbal abuse and in some incidents death.

„h the commitment of health service resources to the treatment of people with alcohol related problems;

In the past tobacco was used for medical and religious purposes, although the medical reasons would now be considered unhealthy and dangerous for individuals. Tobacco was used for headaches, diseases, respiratory and digestive disorders and would also be applied to wounds and infections. ¥Romano Pane, 1559 to 1561, send Cathrine de Medici tobacco as a remedy in the form of snuff for her son's headac

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Approximate Word count = 2487
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)