A punitive, justice system-based approach to users of cannabis does little to help them or address any underlying issues, the Victorian Parliament inquiry into cannabis use in Beechworth heard yesterday.
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Kin Leong of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) told the inquiry that dragging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through court on cannabis charges did little and could have a cascade effect on an individual's life.
"The ramification is ultimately a court-accorded outcome for that person which greatly affects their ability to seek employment, and unemployment rates amongst the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are already high," Mr Leong said.
"A criminal outcome does nothing to address that issue, it in fact makes it worse.
"The use of cannabis and the possession of cannabis for personal use should trigger a health response, not a criminal response."
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Mr Leong argued against the use of the criminal justice system as a "panacea" and championed the use of therapeutic intervention.
"If we don't decriminalise cannabis, under the current regime it certainly is a gateway to further incarceration."
Andrew Hick, who runs the Odyssey House Circuit Breaker Program, told the inquiry that he would like to see an increased focus on therapeutic options as well.
Circuit Breaker is a rehabilitation program for people that suffer from severe drug or alcohol use issues.
"Traditionally in Victoria there has been a lack of therapeutic community beds compared to NSW," said Mr Hick.
"NSW would have between 800 and 1000 beds, whereas Victoria only has about 200.
"Our waiting list is always full, we usually have between 80 and 110 people on the list."
Childhood trauma is something that Mr Hick believes should also be a focus when having a conversation around drug use, whether it be cannabis or methamphetamines.
"Childhood trauma is a gateway to addiction.
"At least 90 per cent of residents at the program have some form of childhood trauma, whether that's sexual, physical or they were abandoned."
Mr Hick said of the people who attend their program, around 80 per cent of them use or have used cannabis, but the majority of attendees list methamphetamine or alcohol as their primary drug of choice.
Mr Hick said that 60 to 65 per cent of attendees have a mental illness, while roughly 5 per cent have severe mental illnesses.
Mr Hick advised a cautious approach to the decriminalisation of cannabis due to the effect it can have on people with mental illnesses.
