Recreational use of illicit drugs including marijuana, cocaine and heroin is currently illegal in Australia. In 1985, the federal and state governments adopted a National Drug Strategy which included a pragmatic mixture of prohibition and a stated objective of harm reduction. Between 1998 and 2007 overall illicit drug use declined close to 40%. Amphetamines use declined by 38%; cannabis use fell by close to 50%; and use of heroin dropped by an impressive 75%. In February 2016 parliament amended the Narcotics Drugs Act, and created a national licensing scheme for the controlled cultivation and testing of medical cannabis.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Local Government Area
State Electorate
Response rates from 1.2k Newcastle voters.
50% Yes |
50% No |
37% Yes |
38% No |
10% Yes, for most but not all drugs |
9% No, but decriminalise drugs that offer medicinal benefits such as marijuana |
2% Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time |
2% No, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation |
1% No, we should pass tougher drug laws |
|
0% No, and increase punishment for drug dealers |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 1.2k Newcastle voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 1.2k Newcastle voters.
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Unique answers from Newcastle voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@4ZJVPR54yrs4Y
Only Marijuana and tax it at 99%. Life sentences for anyone who grows their own
@4THS3BK4yrs4Y
No, we should have the political will to remove the drugs from our streets. I'm sure the authorities know who the dealers/importers are and are most likely to be. I honestly think that it is such a lucrative black market business that the government turns a blind eye or lacks the political will to enforce the law.
@8KYXNYH4yrs4Y
Strongly support medical license drugs such as marijuana and ketamine - though wish to keep them medicinal
@9ZMSSFB4wks4W
The criteria for which drugs are illegal must be consistent. There is no scientifically literate argument for why marijuana is worse for you than alcohol.
@9XV95S31mo1MO
no but decriminalise marijuana and other medicinal drugs and put more money and effort into rehabilitation programs. Drug dealers should serve longer sentences though.
@9WTP3DC2mos2MO
The government should produce and distribute drugs to the public, charging distributors licensing fees and taxing drugs similarly to alcohol or tobacco. It should then punish black market providers more harshly.
@9WNC52Z2mos2MO
Yes, but limited to marijuana and the tax and fines associated to go towards NDIS supports and drug rehabilitation programs.
@9VYZVPJ2mos2MO
Yes, increase funding for programs that provide free drug testing and safe injection equipment while increasing funded prevention and rehabilitation programs
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