NCJ Number
185722
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 281-286
Date Published
September 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A study conducted in 1997 examined the attitudes of criminal justice personnel in South Australia toward South Australia’s Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) system, which began in 1987 and enabled adults possessing, cultivating, or using small amounts of marijuana in private to avoid prosecution and possible conviction by paying a fine.
Abstract
The system attracted considerable criticism when introduced. The study data came from personal interviews and focus-group discussions with 50 people. Most participants were from South Australia Police; information also came from members of the judiciary and representatives of other government departments. Results indicated that the criminal justice sector was satisfied with expiation and believed that no need existed to revert to prosecution of minor marijuana offenders. However, Drug Task Force and other detectives expressed concern about the provision that allowed up to 10 plants in cultivation to be expiable. They produced evidence that individuals and groups were exploiting this provision to grow marijuana commercially. The government closed this apparent loophole shortly after the research concluded by reducing the number of expiable plants to three. However, policymakers could have used other approaches to undermine organized crime’s grip over marijuana production and distribution. Table and 8 references