02/09/2025
I received the following in my email this morning- Did you know?
Hi Judith,
Let's be honest: bad drug policy is killing vulnerable people. Sure, overdose may be the cause of death, but ignorance, stigma, and punitive laws often push people over the edge.
As usual, we have both good and bad news to share this quarter. Victoria’s permanent pill testing service has officially opened in inner Melbourne. However, in a backward step, the new Queensland government has scuttled its pill testing program and is refusing to publish the trial results.
As Erin Patterson settles safely into jail, we now know that possessing "Death Cap” mushrooms is legal in Australia. On the other hand, possessing "Magic" mushrooms carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Apparently, in the eyes of the law, a deadly mushroom is safer than a psychedelic one.
First, you tax it, then you ban it. All drug prohibitions start with punitive taxation, like the 1937 Ma*****na Tax Act, which resulted in the cannabis prohibition we have today. We are blindly heading towards a ni****ne prohibition, with organised crime earning billions, and hapless ni****ne addicts arrested for possession. Just like Cannabis …..
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According to the latest ACIC wastewater report, Australians are training hard for the Co***ne Olympics, posting a whopping 69% increase in consumption over the past year.
And on the global stage, the release of the 2025 United Nations World Drug Report confirms what we have long known. The war on drugs is lost. See the Global News section for details on the latest developments at the UN.
Judith, read on to learn more about the latest developments in local and international drug policy reform.
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To***co Taxation is Lighting Up the Black Market
Australia is blindly implementing a de facto ni****ne prohibition, with punitive taxation on ci******es making them unaffordable, and criminalising possession of ni****ne v**es without a prescription.
Like all prohibitions, this will not end well.
Government taxes make up over 75% of the price of a single cigarette, and packs of 20 cost more than $50, driving vulnerable Australians straight into the arms of unscrupulous criminal operators.
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Source: Australian Taxation Office, NSW Retail Traders' Association via To***co in Australia
Some politicians, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, are pushing back, calling for a rethink on to***co excise, suggesting that the sky-high taxes aren’t curbing smoking rates - they’re fuelling organised crime.
Alan Kohler, the respected finance reporter at the ABC, recently wrote a strong opinion piece calling for change. He writes, “We can now conclude that the strategy of taxing and banning ni****ne addiction out of existence is a complete failure.”
Find out more in the news section on our website.
NSW Police Admit Illegal Strip Search in the Supreme Court
The landmark class action representing over 3,000 individuals strip-searched by NSW Police at music festivals officially commenced on May 5th in the NSW Supreme Court.
The lead plaintiff claims she was unlawfully assaulted at Splendour in the Grass Festival in 2018, where she was forced to remove a tampon and undress in a makeshift cubicle while a male officer entered.
After three years of denial, the NSW Police admitted that the strip search was unlawful, conceding their actions amounted to assault, battery, and false imprisonment.
With police lawyers finally conceding fault, the judge’s only remaining task is to determine damages, with a final decision expected in the coming months.
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Caption: A confronting public drug search at a festival in Victoria.
New Report Exposes Invasive NSW Strip Searches
A recent report by Harm Reduction Australia and the Redfern Legal Service on the use of Strip Searches and Drug Dogs in NSW revealed that of the over 82,000 strip searches conducted between 2014 and 2023, 86% revealed nothing… apart from naked bums.
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Source: Harm Reduction Australia and Redfern Legal Service
In a separate 2024 report by the Redfern Legal Service, 1546 children were strip-searched by NSW Police between 2016 and 2023, of which 45% were First Nations children.
Police are facing growing scrutiny over their reliance on notoriously inaccurate sniffer dogs to justify searches that would otherwise be unlawful.
These obscenities perpetrated by zealots in pursuit of their war on drugs must stop.
We join the call for the end of strip searches based on suspicion of minor drug possession, an end to all strip searches of children, and an end to drug dogs being used at festivals, events, and venues.
ASIC Wastewater Report Reveals 34% Surge in Drug Use
Australia's illicit drug consumption exploded by 34% from August 2023 to August 2024, with a staggering 22.2 tonnes of methamphetamine, co***ne, M**A, and he**in detected via the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.
The report values Australia's illicit drug market, excluding Cannabis, at a massive street value of $11.5 billion.
In line with international trends in co***ne use revealed in the United Nations World Drug Report, the report found co***ne use had risen 69 per cent from the previous year.
Read the full report here.
Nitazene Found in V**e Liquid and Co***ne
On the 1st of August, NSW Police charged a 20‑year‑old with supplying 2.1 kg of nitazene‑laced v**e liquid. This marks the first-ever criminal case involving synthetic opioids infused in v**es.
In another Victorian case, the Coroner has confirmed that a 17-year-old and three adults, found dead in a Broadmeadows home in June 2024, died after snorting nitazene-laced co***ne. The coroner attributed the deaths to nitazene toxicity.
These cases underscore the evolving danger of these synthetic opioids, which can kill in minutes and are being found in a variety of street drugs, including Co***ne and M**A, and fake pharmaceuticals.
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Credit: V**e liquid seized containing nitazenes (NSW Police)
Warning: Synthetic Danger Lurking on the Dark Web
So far, Australia’s isolation has protected us from mass imports of fentanyl and nitazenes. Synthetic drugs have been found in Australia, but the most significant risk appears to be small imports through the dark web, often from the Americas.
If you or someone you care about is using drugs, please consider purchasing some test strips.
You can purchase fentanyl and nitazene test strips directly through our website here.
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Help Prevent Further Overdose Deaths
Your donation helps us advocate for evidence-based reform and support those most at risk.
As a small, self-funded charity, we do not accept government funding, which would compromise our ability to advocate for reform. We rely on your generosity to continue our work for sensible drug policies that reduce harm and promote human rights.
Please Donate
All donations are fully tax-deductible.
Medicinal versus Recreational Cannabis - What’s the difference?
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) has taken action against medicinal cannabis companies for over-prescribing. AHPRA has a point with some clinics prescribing at unrealistic rates of one every 4 minutes, confirming that the medicinal dispensing model for cannabis is broken.
Although medicinal cannabis was legalised over eight years ago, the recent surge in prescriptions suggests that many Australians are using the system to access the drug legally for recreation.
It’s time to ask the fundamental question: When will Australia enact a transparent, regulated cannabis market, like most American states, Canada and other enlightened Western democracies?
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Victoria’s Permanent Pill Testing Service
On the 21st of August, Melbourne's first permanent pill testing site opened at 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, close to public transport, nightlife, and community health services. The government-funded service is operating at set times on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, offering confidential drug testing to all comers over the age of 18.
The first day was a massive success, with 45 substances tested.
This is a significant win for all of us who have campaigned hard for years. Way to go, Victoria!
More information is available from the Victorian Health Department.
Our Street Advocacy
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Cooper Verdon, our National Advocacy and Fundraising Manager
Our advocacy team is continuing to take drug reform to the streets.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s stopped to chat, shared their story, or chipped in with a donation. Every conversation helps grow the movement.
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The 2025 World Drug Report Drops a Bombshell
The United Nations' 2025 World Drug Report finally concedes that the "War on Drugs," with its relentless prohibitionist zeal, is exacerbating the very problems it purports to solve.
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The report exposes a bitter paradox of the co***ne wars, namely that despite billions poured into eradication efforts, global co***ne production and consumption have soared to record highs - a clear sign of just how futile the war on drugs has become.
From 2005 to 2023, coca cultivation and co***ne production have increased by almost threefold.
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And yet, even in the face of irrefutable evidence, the UN remains constrained by archaic drug control conventions. See the full report here.
UN to Appoint Panel for Drug Policy Review
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Following the groundbreaking vote at the 68th CND in March, the United Nations is moving forward with its independent review of the drug control conventions. A panel of 19 independent experts will be tasked with recommending reforms to the entire UN drug control system.
Unfortunately, the panel will include ten members appointed by the CND, three by the International Narcotics Control Board and only one representative from the World Health Organisation.
Civil society voices are notably absent from the process. The absence of representation from affected communities and health and human rights groups raises concerns about whether the review will drive real change.
Thailand to Recriminalise Cannabis
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Three years after decriminalizing cannabis in 2022, Thailand’s new government has reclassified cannabis for medical use only, effectively recriminalizing recreational consumption.
The Minister for Public Health signed an order in June 2025 restricting cannabis sales to individuals with a valid medical prescription. In a potential loophole, not only doctors but dentists and traditional Thai or Chinese medicine practitioners can also write scripts.
The country’s 18,000 dispensaries and the $1 billion cannabis industry are reeling from the dramatic backflip. Recreational shops must register as clinics or shut down.
However, there's no need to cancel your Thailand holiday yet, but you might want to book a Traditional Thai massage or a dentist appointment to get a "legal" Cannabis script.
Trump Escalates the War on Drugs
President Trump is doubling down on the U.S. war on drugs with his latest playbook: tariffs and now military force. He has signed an executive order authorising the administration to use the military to go after Mexican drug gangs designated as global terrorist organisations. Understandably, Mexico’s President is not happy.
In retaliation for China's export of fentanyl precursors, he slapped a 20% tariff on all Chinese products. Understandably, China's President is not happy!
He signed the HALT Fentanyl Act on July 16, increasing prison terms for fentanyl related offences.
At the same time, Trump is stripping federal funding from harm reduction programs, threatening the very services that save lives. This comes despite heavy opposition from public health advocates and families impacted by overdose deaths, who argue the bill prioritises punishment over prevention.
A rare bright spot: Trump is reportedly considering the reclassification of cannabis—from its current Schedule I status (alongside he**in) down to Schedule III. That’s the same federal tier as drugs like codeine, allowing for reduced restrictions and easier access for medical research.
International Overdose Awareness Day
International Day of Drug Overdoses on the 31st of August is approaching. Spare a thought for the 190 Australians who die every month from accidental overdose, whose lives were cut short due to inadequate policy and support services. More information from the Penington Institute.
Support Don’t Punish and the Death Penalty
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June 26, 2025, marked the 13th annual ‘Support. Don’t Punish.’ Global Day of Action - a day that stands in stark contrast to the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which some governments use to justify executions.
Don’t forget, the war on drugs is a war on people. Thirty-four countries still retain the death penalty for drug offences, and 2,300 people remain on death row.
Additionally, in 2025, at least 615 executions were confirmed, excluding China, Vietnam, and North Korea, due to state secrecy.
According to Amnesty International, these executions often follow unfair trials and limited legal representation.
Final Thought - Please Support Drug Policy Australia
At Drug Policy Australia, we are committed to advocating for evidence-based reform to the outdated and ineffective drug laws. But we need your help.
One person dies of an overdose every four hours. Many of these deaths can be prevented.
Having recovered from my own he**in addiction, I have an intimate understanding of how ineffective our current drug laws are. The laws did not help me then, and they are not helping the thousands of Australian families who need help today.
This is why I teamed up with Dr. John Sherman, an addiction specialist with over 45 years of experience, to create Drug Policy Australia.
As a small, self-funded charity, we do not accept government funding, which would compromise our ability to advocate for reform. We rely on your generosity to continue our work for sensible drug policies that reduce harm and promote human rights.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider donating to support our mission.
Please Donate
All donations are fully tax-deductible.
Finally, thank you, particularly to our new supporters, for your support and commitment to drug policy reform. Together, we are making a difference by advocating for policies that prioritise health, dignity, and human rights.
Please phone me anytime on 0417 773 372.
Greg Chipp
Managing Director
Dr John Sherman, Lisa van Rooyen
Directors
www.drugpolicy.com.au
Drug Policy Australia · 4 22 Narong Rd, Caulfield North, Victoria 3161, Australia
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Drug Policy Australia is a new Australian drug policy NGO promoting harm minimisation strategies. They believe that legally enforced abstinence is unrealistic and counter-productive in modern Australia.
