Alan Jones Is Weirdly Reasonable On Drug Decriminalisation

It looks like it’s time for the stopped clock to be right once more. Alan Jones has publicly entertained the thought that maybe punishing drug users is not be the best way to reduce drug-related harm.

Last month, the NSW Bar Association put forward a submission to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice.

In it, the association called for the government to look at decriminalising the personal possession and use of drugs, and focus on rehabilitating users rather than punishing them.

“Assessment of the harm resulting from these particular drugs should include consideration of those harms resulting from heavy reliance on law enforcement,” said the submission.

“It is the position of the Association that consideration should be given to decriminalisation of personal acquisition, possession and use of illicit drugs, with increased focus on treatment and harm reduction measures.” The NSW Bar Association also specified that producing, trafficking and supplying drugs should still remain criminalised.

This seems like a reasonable approach. It would be a lot easier for people to seek help for an addiction or substance abuse problem if they weren’t afraid of being fined or gaoled. Resources could also go toward treatment rather than penalisation.

However, decriminalisation as harm reduction is a concept some people have difficulty wrapping their head around. Some feel that doing so would have the adverse effect of encouraging more people to use drugs, or implicitly condoning it.

Surprisingly, it seems that notorious bad opinion-holder Alan Jones may not agree. Discussing the submission with Sunrise this morning, Jones didn’t outright state support for decriminalisation but was far from ruling it out.

“I never thought I’d say this, but everything we’ve done to date has failed. Everything. So something different has to be done,” said Jones, referring to the government’s attempts to curb drug addiction in Australia.

“Now they’re talking about decriminalisation and noting where the drug users are, seeing if we can help them, see if we can rehabilitate them, and seeing if through them we can catch those people who are producing the stuff. Everything we’ve done to date has failed, it’s worse now than it’s ever been, so sensible people have to look at changing the system.”

The idea of decriminalisation has gradually gained support over the past few years, but has yet to be adopted. If even Jones is giving it serious consideration, perhaps we’re closer than ever before.