Legalise It, Tax It and Reap the Benefits
The recent United Nations Conference on Drugs (UNGASS) was viewed by many as a missed opportunity to move towards the decriminalisation of drugs, especially cannabis. However, there were indications that a number of countries recognise the social and economic benefits...
Criminal Justice Visas and Stay Certificates
Needless to say, people who are accused of crimes in Australia can be charged even if they are not Australian citizens or permanent residents; but are just here on working, study or holiday visas. So what happens if a temporary...
Newspaper: It’s Time to Legalise and Regulate Cannabis
The Economist refers to itself as a newspaper providing expert economic analysis. One of the its stated aims is to “take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.” In...
Don’t Get High on Your Own Supply
There are many stories about ingenious criminal masterminds - people who are able to plan elaborate schemes and get away with it, often making vast sums of money in the process. On the other hand, there are those who might...
Naughty or Nice? Top 5 Crimes in Santa Suits
He’s supposed to know when you’ve been naughty or nice - but even jolly old Saint Nick can find himself on the wrong side of the law from time to time. From armed robberies to handing out drugs - and...
‘Sniff Off’! Facebook Page Informs Users of Drug Dog Locations
Each year, thousands of people are caught possessing drugs by police and sniffer dogs stationed at drug ‘hot spots’, including music festivals, licensed venues and certain train stations. In most cases, the drugs are for personal use and the quantities...
Can My Breath Analysis Results Be Thrown Out of Court?
Most people who return a positive breath test will plead guilty and take steps towards securing the most lenient penalty, often seeking to avoid a criminal conviction and licence disqualification. Those steps might include getting an experienced lawyer, completing a...
Police Power to Pick Who to Prosecute
We recently wrote a blog about NSW Premier Mike Baird, who was caught doing an illegal U-turn and not wearing a seat belt during a double demerits long weekend. The highway patrol officer who pulled Baird over decided to let...
92 Charged with Drug Offences at Splendour in the Grass
Another year, another Splendour - and for the 30,000 music lovers who donned gumboots and braved the copious amounts of mud and rain, the event was a great success, with artists such as Tame Impala, Florence and the Machine, Mark...
Overturning a Jury Verdict: The Case of M v The Queen
For centuries, juries have played an important role in criminal trials, scrutinising all the evidence that is presented by both sides before attempting to reach a unanimous verdict. But is a jury’s verdict always the end of the matter -...
