The Australian Medical Affiliation (AMA) is opposing a invoice to legalize hashish for grownup use citing the potential for elevated “well being and social-related harms.” In its opposition letter, the group says that whereas it helps decriminalization for private use and elevating the age of prison duty to 14-years-old, it’s involved that “individuals could use leisure hashish merchandise to self-medicate when Australia already has an current, high-quality course of for assessing the protection, high quality, and efficacy of therapeutic merchandise via the [Therapeutic Goods Administration].”
“The AMA believes that if hashish was legalized for leisure functions, it could point out to the general public that hashish use will not be dangerous. Nevertheless, the AMA acknowledges that the present method to hashish regulation may very well be improved. The AMA believes that hashish use must be handled initially as a well being challenge as a substitute of a prison challenge. The AMA helps the Therapeutic Items Administration’s function in assessing the protection, high quality, and efficacy of hashish merchandise for therapeutics functions.” — AMA Submission to the Senate Authorized and Constitutional Affairs Committee – Legalizing Hashish Invoice 2023, Nov. 3, 2023
The letter notes that “absolutely the danger of harms related to hashish use is low and those that use hashish sometimes are unlikely to be affected” however that “there are short- and long-term psychological and bodily well being impacts of utilizing hashish which might fluctuate relying on the person’s temper and weight, their technique of administration and portions used.” The AMA additionally mentioned it’s involved that legalization would “put additional stress on an already strained well being system, together with additional pressure on already restricted and under-funded psychological well being and drug rehabilitation providers.”
Hashish is the most typical illicit drug used within the nation, with 36% of Australians 14-and-older utilizing hashish of their lifetime, in keeping with 2019 figures from the Australian Institute of Well being and Welfare cited by the AMA. In 2019, 11.6% of Australians mentioned that they had consumed hashish throughout the earlier yr. Hashish is authorized for medical functions in Australia.
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