Medicinal cannabis

Provides background information about the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medicinal purposes, the experience of other countries that allow people to use it, and the interconnecting Commonwealth and Victorian laws that could be affected if Victoria introduces its own scheme. Summary There are two central questions in the review: Who should be eligible to use cannabis for medicinal purposes? The terms of reference ask the Commission to identify options for allowing people to be treated with medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances. Although medical knowledge about the therapeutic properties of cannabis is evolving rapidly, it is incomplete. It is nevertheless apparent that medicinal cannabis holds considerable potential for many different areas of treatment, and some Victorians are already turning to it for relief.   How extensive should any Victorian medicinal cannabis scheme be? The simplest legal solutions are not the best health solutions. Developing options for legislative change is not merely a technical exercise in removing some of the existing prohibitions on possessing and using cannabis; it is also necessary to build an avenue of health care. Thought needs to be given to how the scheme could focus most effectively on helping the patient.  A comprehensive medicinal cannabis scheme could be introduced, in collaboration with the Commonwealth. A more limited scheme could be introduced by Victoria acting alone

Knowledge of current abortion law and views on abortion law reform: a community survey of NSW residents

Objective: To report results of a community survey of NSW residents' knowledge of current abortion law and views on abortion law reform. Methods: A total of 1,015 men and women participated. Recruitment and questionnaires were completed anonymously online using survey panel sampling. Results: Seventy-six per cent of respondents were unaware that abortion remains a criminal offence in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and 73% thought it should be decriminalised and regulated as a healthcare service. Support for decriminalisation was consistent across genders, age groups, residents of metropolitan/regional and rural areas and levels of education. Support was strong for women seeking abortion to be protected from harassment (89%) and for protester exclusion zones around clinics (81%), with support for these measures significantly stronger among regional/rural residents than Sydney-based respondents. Conclusions: Abortion law in NSW is out of step with contemporary community views. Residents are largely unaware that it remains a criminal offence and, when informed, support decriminalisation. There is strong support for legal changes to protect women from harassment and to provide protester exclusion zones around abortion clinics. Implications for public health: Abortion law reform would reduce current inequities of access, be democratic and support women's autonomy and reproductive rights

Overcoming barriers in the criminal court system : Examining the challenges faced when interviewing legal stakeholders

This collection contributes to, advances and consolidates discussions of the range of methods and approaches in criminology through the presentation of diverse international case studies in which the authors reflect upon their experiences ..

Watched over or over-watched? Open street CCTV in Australia

Most developed countries, Australia included, are witnessing increased government and public concerns about crime and security. Amid these anxieties, closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to monitor public spaces are increasingly being touted as a solution to problems of crime and disorder. The city of Perth established Australia’s first open street closed circuit television system in July 1991. Subsequently, there has been significant expansion. At the end of 2002 Australia had 33 “open street” CCTV schemes. Based on site inspections, extensive reviews of documentation and interviews with 22 Australian administrators, this article discusses issues relating to system implementation, management and accountability.We also suggest ways relevant authorities might ensure that current and future schemes are appropriately audited and evaluated. We argue that rigorous independent assessment of both the intended and unintended consequences of open street CCTV is essential to ensure this measure is not deployed inappropriately. Finally, this article suggests any potential crime prevention benefits must be carefully weighed against the potential of CCTV to exacerbate social division and exclusion