Category Archives:Drug Supply

November 26, 2015 Drug Supply, Drugs General
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Doctor Acid: Treating Patients with LSD

LSD, commonly known as ‘acid,’ is a hallucinogenic drug which causes users to experience distorted images, sounds and sensations.

Nowadays, it is enjoyed by those in search of a psychedelic experience – but when it was first synthesised in 1938 by Swiss scientist Albert Hoffman, it was hoped that it could be used as a treatment for psychiatric disorders. Despite its promising beginning, LSD was soon outlawed around the world due to concerns about an emerging ‘black market’ for the drug.

But one Swiss psychiatrist is determined to carry on Hoffman’s legacy by incorporating LSD into his psychotherapy practice.

Could LSD Have Medical Benefits?

Dr Peter Gasser is the only doctor in the world who is legally authorised to treat patients using LSD.

He was one of five doctors granted special permission from the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health in 1988 to research the use of LSD in treating psychiatric disorders; but the Swiss government banned the drug again in 1993. Despite this setback, Dr Gasser approached the Swiss Ministry of Health in 2007 for permission to conduct a study into the effects of the drug on patients suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer.

According to Dr Gasser, LSD is particularly beneficial in treating ‘end of life anxiety,’ which refers to anxiety and other mental stressors experienced by those who suffer from terminal and life-threatening illnesses.

His 2007 study – which was the first controlled trial of LSD in the 21st century – involved prescribing moderate doses of LSD to 12 terminally-ill patients during two individual therapy sessions.

After taking the drug, each patient would spend time sleeping on a couch in Dr Gasser’s office while being observed. In some cases, the patients would discuss their emotional journey with the doctor, who would assist them in overcoming their fear of death.

Dr Gasser found that the drug provoked a ‘strong emotional experience’ which allowed patients to understand their existence in a broader context. The eight patients who received full doses of the drug reported a 20% improvement in their anxiety levels. Many patients left feeling ‘very satisfied’ with their sessions, and even requested further treatment.

In a recent interview, Dr Gasser explained:

‘Our concept was if someone gets a life-threatening disease, he’s really confronted with existential issues, which also may cause anxiety. To have this deep encounter with oneself—which is what an LSD experience can be—can help someone deal with these questions about life. There’s a stronger possibility of them being relaxed and accepting, which can make the anxiety lower when talking about death.’

Where to From Here?

Unfortunately, Dr Gasser’s 2007 trial was considered too small to be conclusive; but following its success, he was granted a special ‘compassion use’ permit by the Swiss government which allows him to continue treating patients using LSD.

Dr Gasser’s special permit does not confine him to treating cancer patients – but allows him to treat anyone using LSD provided he has a ‘good theory’ about how it could help.

One current patient had been severely sexually abused as a child and suffered dissociation as a result, but Dr Gasser prescribed her LSD under the belief that it could assist to have greater control over her dissociation. The patient reported benefits after taking just two treatments of the drug.

Dr Gasser is currently treating 7 patients with LSD. In each case, he carefully assesses the appropriate dosage, as well as the frequency of treatment.

He hopes that in light of his success in treating anxiety and other disorders, other governments will one day allow more doctors to treat their patients with LSD.

November 01, 2015 Drug Possession, Drug Supply, Drugs General
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Twin Tragedies Haunt Music Festivals

Sydney has been rocked by tragedies at two recent music festivals.

Last weekend, 23-year-old Sydney woman Anneke Vo was found dead at the Dragon Dreaming Festival, which is held annually at Wee Jasper in the state’s south.

It has been reported that Ms Vo passed away after consuming an unknown substance.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Jordan Brown from Sydney’s Northern Beaches has been charged with several offences relating to a fatal accident which occurred as he was driving home from the Psyfari music festival at Lithgow.

Dragon Dreaming Death

Ms Vo bid farewell to her family on the 22nd of October as they dropped her off at a local train station to attend the Dragon Dreaming Festival.

She was supposed to return home after the four day event, which is billed as a celebration of ‘art, music, nature and the freedom of self-expression in a safe, family friendly gathering.’

Sadly, she was found deceased at around 5:30am on Sunday the 25th of October.

Medical professionals attempted to perform CPR but were unable to revive her.

Media reports say that in the hours prior to her death, Ms Vo had told her friends that she was feeling unwell, and went to go and lie down. But when they returned to check up on her, she has passed away.

The cause for Ms Vo’s death is not yet known; but it is understood that she had no underlying medical conditions and, as such many, there is speculation that her death may have been linked to drug use. It is hoped that a toxicology report will reveal the exact cause of the tragedy .

The festival’s organiser has offered his condolences to the young woman’s friends and family, stating:

“Dragon Dreaming considers the safety of patrons a priority and we will continue to work closely with all authorities to determine exactly what happened in this situation. This event relies on a close-knit community of volunteers and patrons who are all saddened by the tragic loss of a precious young life.”

78 people were accused of drug possession at this year’s festival, up on last year’s figure of 74.

Police have warned that this year’s tragedy may put an end to future instalments of the festival, with Superintendant Zoran Dzevlan stating: ‘[The festival] does concern me and personally I’d prefer the event didn’t take place.’

Psyfari Festival ends in Tragedy

Meanwhile, a young man from Sydney’s Northern Beaches has been charged with a suite of offences following a tragic accident which occurred as he and his friends were returning from the Psyfari Music Festival, which was held near Lithgow between the 28th and 30th of August this year.

Jordan Brown was driving back from the festival along with four friends, when his car was involved in a head-on collision on the Bells Line of Road at Bilpin.

Three passengers who were travelling in the back seat of his car – 17-year-old Lachie Burleigh, 19-year-old Ben Sawyer and 21-year-old Luke Shanahan were killed instantly, but Mr Brown and his front seat passenger escaped without serious injury. An elderly couple who were travelling in the other vehicle were lucky to escape with their lives.

Mr Brown has been charged with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and drug driving.

The tragedy shook the tight knit Northern Beaches community – but during an emotional tribute, the parents of deceased Lachlan Burleigh told Mr Brown that ‘we do forgive you, we know that you’re going through so much pain, we are too.’

It is unclear how Mr Brown will plead to the charges. He has been granted bail and is due to appear at Windsor Local Court on November 12.

October 15, 2015 Drug Possession, Drug Supply, Drugs General
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Unusual Uses for Illicit Drugs

It is common knowledge that cocaine, heroin, cannabis, LSD and ecstasy are all illegal – and those who use, supply or have these drugs in their possession could face harsh penalties under the law.

But you may be surprised to learn that some of these now-illegal drugs were once socially acceptable, and were added to commercially produced foods and drinks, to alleviate health problems and even to produce clothing.

Here are some of the things that illegal drugs were once used for:

Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the most addictive illegal drugs.

The United States first enacted laws to restrict cocaine use in 1914, with the passage of the Harrison Act. That piece of law required cocaine and other narcotics to be prescribed by a doctor. Before those days, cocaine was commonly used as a painkiller and anaesthetic in dental and nasal operations. In fact, in the late 19th century, ‘Cocaine Toothache Drops’ were commercially produced and marketed as a remedy for treating teething pains in children.

But cocaine traditionally had other uses too – you may already be aware that the world’s most popular bottled drink, Coca-Cola, initially contained cocaine. The inventor of the drink, John Pemberton, reportedly formulated it to contain five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup, claiming that the beverage was a ‘valuable brain tonic.’ The amount of cocaine in the drink was gradually reduced, before it was removed altogether.

Heroin

The dangers associated with long-term heroin use are well known these days, but back in the early 20th century it was a different story altogether.

Pharmaceutical giant Bayer synthesised the drug in the late 19th century, and it soon became commercially available as a ‘non-addictive morphine substitute’ and as a cough medicine. In a day and age where pneumonia and tuberculosis were amongst the leading causes of death, heroin was lauded as an effective new treatment for these illnesses.

But as its highly addictive properties were realised, doctors became concerned about the wellbeing of patients, and many stopped prescribing heroin to treat common health problems.

In some countries, such as the UK, diacetylmorphine (the chemical name for heroin) is still prescribed to treat acute and chronic pain – although morphine is more commonly used for these purposes.

LSD

A well-known hallucinogen, LSD, is used recreationally by those wishing to have a psychedelic experience.

But before it gained notoriety for these effects, LSD was used experimentally by psychiatrists between the 1940’s and 1960’s, who were searching for a cure for various types of mental illness.

Many believed that LSD’s hallucinogenic effects could result in permanent changes to a patient’s personality and behaviours – but after years of experimentation, psychiatrists ruled out any possible medical benefits.

The US government also reportedly considered using LSD as a ‘chemical weapon.’

During the 1950s, the CIA launched Project MKUltra, which consisted of a number of illegal experiments on human subjects in order to identify ways to force confessions out of suspects.

Researchers reported that LSD ‘is capable of rendering whole groups of people, including military forces, indifferent to their surroundings and situations, interfering with planning and judgment, and even creating apprehension, uncontrollable confusion and terror.’

However, the Project was abandoned in the 1970s after documents were uncovered through Freedom of Information laws, sparking widespread public outrage.

Cannabis

The fight to legalise medicinal marijuana has gained traction in recent years – but its medicinal properties have been known for a long time.

Historical records indicate that the Vikings and Medieval Germans used cannabis as a form of pain relief during childbirth and for toothaches. The plant was also used in ancient China as a form of anaesthetic during surgery, and it was widely used in India to ease anxiety.

Besides medicinal uses, hemp fibres from the plant were traditionally used to produce material, which was then used in clothing and furnishings. Hemp clothing has gained popularity in recent years, with several manufacturers producing environmentally friendly t-shirts and pants which are available to the public.

Hemp is also used to produce oil-based colours for plastics, construction, and even in food.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is the drug of choice for ravers around the world.

But it was initially developed in 1912 by pharmaceutical company Merck, which was attempting to develop a substance to stop abnormal bleeding. That company manufactured and tested the drug, but did not put it into production.

MDMA was synthesised again in the 1960s and 70s by an American scientist by the name of Alexander Shulgin, who began examining the psychoactive effects of the drug on humans.

Shulgin’s research indicated that it may serve a useful purpose in psychotherapy, and in the years that followed, several other psychotherapists promoted and prescribed the drug to patients, believing that they would benefit from the decreased sense of anxiety and increased communication.

But all this came to a head in 1985 when the drug was outlawed in the United States, with other countries to follow.

October 07, 2015 Drug Possession, Drug Supply
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Drug Arrests at the ‘Listen Out’ Music Festival

Sydneysiders enjoying the October long weekend were blessed with a trifecta of warm, sun-filled days, with many choosing to spend their time off catching up with mates, partying and relaxing in the great outdoors.

Those who were lucky enough to attend the third annual ‘Listen Out’ festival in Sydney’s Centennial Parklands were treated to a stellar line up of electronic and hip hop artists, among them Childish Gambino, SBTRKT, Joey Bada$$ and Golden Features.

The festival attracted nearly 18,000 revellers, and as to be expected, there was a strong police and sniffer dog presence.

A total of seven partygoers were arrested at the festival for drug supply, including one person who was found in possession of over 100 ecstasy pills and another who had 90 ecstasy pills in their possession.

114 other patrons were arrested for drug possession, with varying quantities of ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine detected.

Just a few days earlier, incredible footage was released of would-be partygoers attempting to gatecrash the Perth leg of the festival by dismantling a wire fence. But they ran into serious problems when met with a second fence, with many forced to scramble and run back just as police officers arrived.

While police commented that ‘overall the behaviour of the crowd inside the venue was great, with no major incidents, medical emergencies or disturbances,’ the number of drug arrests was a increase on previous years.

At the Melbourne edition of Listen Out last year, just 37 were apprehended for drug possession, with the vast majority receiving drug diversions and cannabis cautions.

Defqon.1 Tragedy

Just two weeks earlier, a 26-year-old male died after attending a separate music festival in Sydney.

The Albury man is believed to have consumed ecstasy prior to being found unconscious in a tent at the Defqon.1 Festival, held at the Penrith Regatta Centre in Western Sydney.

A coronial inquest will determine whether the man took illicit drugs in the hours leading up to his death.

A further nine people were hospitalised during the festival for suspected drug overdoses. Another 60 people were arrested, with 46 arrests made for drug offences. Four people were charged with drug supply, with two people caught with 46 capsules of a substance believed to be MDMA. The other arrests were for public order and trespass offences.

Several revellers were arrested after police stopped and searched a bus heading to the event. Of the 30 passengers searched, 14 were found with drugs in their possession. The discovery resulted in police issuing a search warrant on a home in Hornsby, where cocaine, ecstasy, steroids and $5,800 in cash was found and seized.

The latest Defqon tragedy is the festival’s second in the space of three years, after the highly-publicised death of James Munro at the very same festival in 2013. The 23-year-old from Victoria was found alone by security staff at the festival. He told paramedics that he had consumed three ecstasy pills beforehand, and suffered three cardiac arrests before being pronounced dead at Nepean Hospital.

Mr Munro’s father, Stephen, later spoke to the media, stating that his son had ecstasy tablets with him and decided to take them before entering the festival, as ‘there was a police presence at the gates and a concern he would be detected.’

While deaths at festivals often ignite calls for sniffer dogs and drug detection operations to be banned, police are likely to use the increased number of drug arrests to justify future operations.

In a media statement issued by NSW Police following the Listen Out festival, Operation Commander Gavin Dengate reminded festival goers of the dangers of consuming illicit drugs. He stated that:

‘We are committed and will always run these types of policing operations to catch anyone peddling illegal and potentially-lethal substances to make the event safer for everyone.’

I’ve Been Charged with a Drug Offence- What Should I Do?

Patrons charged with drug possession during Listen Out are required to attend Downing Centre Local Court in early November. That courthouse is just across the road from our offices. If you’ve been charged, you can call our office anytime to arrange a free first appointment, where we will go through the steps forward, and advise you of the likely outcome.

If you would like to be represented by one of our experienced drug defence lawyers in court, rest assured that we offer fixed fees for all drug possession cases. This means that for a set fee, you will be guaranteed representation by a an experienced specialist who is familiar with the Magistrates in Downing Centre Court, and will fight to help you avoid a criminal record.

September 17, 2015 Drug Manufacture, Drug Supply
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Ice Dealers to Face Life Imprisonment

Hardly a week goes by without hearing about what politicians are calling the ‘ice epidemic.’

In the latest attempt to address the problem, the NSW government has introduced increased penalties for those who manufacture or supply the drug.

Starting from this month, people who are found guilty of supplying or manufacturing methylamphetamine will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and fines up to $500,000, up from the previous maximum of 20 years.

What does the legislation say?

There are various penalties for drug supply in NSW, depending on the quantity and the particular drug in question. A supply charge could be for:

  • a small quantity;
  • indictable quantity;
  • commercial quantity; or
  • a large commercial quantity

The explanatory note to the new Drug Misuse and Trafficking Amendment (Methamphetamine) Regulation 2015 says that its aim is to:

“decrease, from one kilogram to half a kilogram, the threshold at which a quantity of the prohibited drug methylamphetamine (also known as “ice”) is considered a large commercial quantity.”

This essentially means that now, instead of one kilogram being a large commercial quantity, those who supply half that amount will face a potential life sentence.

Attorney General Gabrielle Upton justified the move by saying that ice dealers:

“profit from the misery and misfortune of others [and] must be held to higher account… We believe serious drug manufacturers and dealers spreading this poison throughout the community must be held to higher account… The ultimate aim is to cut off supply of these drugs, which we know are an epidemic across our state.”

Do tougher penalties really work?

These new laws have been deemed necessary due to the ‘ice epidemic’ that has been ravaging both city and regional areas of NSW.

Increased penalties are an easy way for politicians to be seen as ‘tough on crime’, even though such measures rarely actually work. Rather, they are a simple and convenient way to avoid addressing the underlying causes of drug use, and consequent supply, and to maintain a policy whereby little is done to educate, prevent and rehabilitate.

As we have pointed out time and time again, the idea of ‘general deterrence’ – that is, deterring others from committing crimes – relies on the ability of people to make rational decisions, particularly for offences which require premeditation, and to believe that they may actually be caught.

But many drug suppliers are also users, and for those making decisions under the grip of a highly addictive drug, the deterrence theory is unlikely to have any effect. Others at the top of the drug supply and importation chains believe that there is little to no chance that they will ever be caught. For these people, increased penalties are unlikely to have any effect at all.

Criticism of the legislation

Many disagree with the new legislation, which was passed through Parliament before any proper consultation or debate.

Professor Alison Ritter, Director of the Drug Policy Modelling Program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), says that:

“regulations and laws should be based on best available evidence, and that evidence needs to be brought into the debate about where you set these thresholds, and as far as I can see that hasn’t occurred in this particular instance.”

Sam Biondo, Executive Officer of the Victoria Alcohol and Drug Association, believes that simply punishing people who supply drugs is ineffective, and that we need to look at decreasing the demand for ice.

And criminal law expert Stephen Odgers SC says that “this proposal would be unlikely to have any effect – except to add to the already existing problem of over-crowded prisons”.

Drug defence lawyers

If you have been charged with a drug offence, an experienced drug defence lawyer will be able to explain your options and the best way forward. In serious drug cases, they will often be able to have charges dropped or downgraded due to problems in the prosecution case, or have the case thrown out of court if the prosecution nevertheless wishes to pursue the charges all the way to a defended hearing or jury trial. If you wish to plead guilty, they will prepare your case for court and fight for the most lenient penalty.

September 13, 2015 Drug Possession, Drug Supply
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War on Drugs: A Complete and Utter Failure?

We have written many blogs about the failure of the ‘War on Drugs’, which has waged on for decades around the world.

For over a generation, drug users have been prosecuted, punished and even locked up – often for minor offences including drug possession and small supply, despite studies and reports overwhelmingly reaching the conclusion that punitive approaches are ineffective, and even counterproductive.

Despite a wave of experts recommending that drugs like cannabis and ecstasy should be legalised, law enforcement agencies have recently been given expanded powers and resources to detect and prosecute minor drug crime.

But it is hoped that changes to drug policy may be on the horizon, with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales announcing a new study into Australian policing strategies and whether they have in fact been effective in deterring drug crime.

Aims of the Study

The study is a collaboration between several researchers at the UNSW, an academic based at the University of California, and Dr Don Weatherburn of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

It aims to provide a broad overview of whether or not existing drug enforcement strategies have been effective in deterring drug use and supply.

It aims to specifically examine the effectiveness of drug policing strategies at festivals and clubs – including the use of sniffer dogs.

Previous research suggests that the use of drug detection dogs is ineffective, with dogs frequently giving false indications. Statistics show that 64% of searches result in drugs not being found, despite a positive indication by a sniffer dogs.

Despite such research, governments continue to spend millions of dollars every year on the sniffer dog programs, hoping that they will ‘deter, discourage or prevent drug offending.’

It estimated that the government spends a total of $1.7 billion annually enforcing our outdated drug laws.

How Will the Study Work?

The study is comprised of three parts.

The first is the National Drug Policing Survey, which will invite Australian residents aged 18 years or over to answer questions about ‘the impact of Australian policing strategies on drug and alcohol use and drug selling at outdoor music festivals and licensed entertainment precincts.’

Researchers have specifically chosen these settings as they are ‘two of the most common sites at which policing occurs.’

The prevalence of drug detection dogs at these locations is likely due to the fact, under section 148 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, police do not require a warrant to use sniffer dogs or carry out general drug detection operations in relation to persons in, or entering or leaving pubs and clubs, or persons at, or seeking to enter or leave a public place at which a sporting event, concert or other artistic performance, dance party, parade or other entertainment is being held.

The second part of the study will involve researchers following up on sixty participants over the course of three months ‘to examine impacts of drug law enforcement under real world policing conditions.’

The final part will involve analysing the results of the first two components to determine how to best develop drug policies for the future.

Benefits

Facilitators of the study say that it will ‘provide the first comprehensive assessment of the impacts of policing: including the extent to which police can be expected to prevent and reduce harms from drug use, possession, purchase and drug trafficking.’

It is hoped that the results will provide some insight as to whether Australia’s current approach to drugs is effective – or whether there is, as predicted, room for improvement.

In particular, it will provide concrete evidence about whether the use of sniffer dogs at festivals is effective, and whether it has undesirable side-effects such as encouraging drug users to take risks like quickly swallowing numerous pills before reaching the venue – or at the venue – to avoid detection (‘pill-loading’).

The study follows repeated calls for sniffer dogs to be banned from live music events, after a number of people tragically died after ‘pill-loading’.

In 2013, 23-year-old James Munro passed away after consuming 3 ecstasy pills at the Defqon 1 music festival at the Penrith Regatta Centre. Speaking to the media after his death, James’ father, Stephen Munro, said that his son had quickly consumed the pills altogether because of ‘a police presence at the gates and a concern he would be detected.’

It is hoped that the results of the National Drug Policing Survey and the subsequent analysis will pave the way to a safer approach to drug use that will ensure further deaths are avoided.

September 10, 2015 Drug Supply
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Socialite Charged with Cocaine Supply

Methamphetamine (ice) abuse may have featured heavily in the media of late, but new statistics released by BOCSAR show that cocaine use is rising at an even greater rate.

The latest crime report, which discusses crime trends in New South Wales between July 2013 and June 2015, shows that possession and use of cocaine has increased by 47.2% during the period, with the number of recorded criminal incidents skyrocketing from 1,071 over the 12 months to June 2014 to 1,576 over the 12 months to June 2015.

In comparison – and in contrast to the picture which is so often painted by the media – amphetamine possession or use has risen by 38.1%. Meanwhile, possession or use of narcotics has risen by 10.1%, and cannabis use or possession has increased by 7.4%.

Despite this, dealing or trafficking in cocaine has remained relatively stable, and drug importation has in fact decreased.

Cocaine Use in Pubs and Clubs ‘Widespread’

The release of the statistics follows widespread reports that cocaine is being used regularly in pubs and clubs across New South Wales.

A survey conducted by the Daily Telegraph in July found traces of cocaine in 20 out of 25 licensed premises that were tested using Wipetech Drug Screen devices.

Additional BOCSAR statistics show that drug offences in licensed premises have increased by 35% over the past five years. Possession of cocaine in licensed venues has increased by 87.5% during the same period – a significant increase when compared to other drugs such as ecstasy (up by 22%) and amphetamines (up 11%).

The study found that men in the 20 to 29 age bracket are the biggest users of cocaine – despite the common misconception that cocaine is the drug of choice for wealthy, middle-aged professionals.

In July this year, the iconic Imperial Hotel in Erskineville was closed for 72 hours after police found bar staff and patrons openly using drugs. It was the second closure order that the venue received due to drug-related activities.

The pub was recently sold for $6.5 million, with its new owners promising to improve its reputation.

Bondi Socialite Busted

With cocaine use on the rise, police have promised to ramp up efforts to bust those who use or supply the drug.

Last week, Bondi model and fashion entrepreneur George Gerges was one of nine people named as running a sophisticated cocaine syndicate, which involved selling the drug across Sydney.

Police searched a several properties across Sydney last week, finding hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and even firearms. A large amount of money believed to be proceeds of crime was also seized.

Gerges is alleged to have supplied 941.9 grams of cocaine over a three month period.

This amount falls just within the range of supplying a ‘commercial quantity,’ which attracts a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and/or a $385,000 fine.

It is alleged that Mr Gerges also supplied a large amount of steroids. He appeared in Newtown Local Court last week, where he did not apply for bail.

Strike Force Morti was established earlier this year to investigate drug supply in Sydney. It was famously involved in nabbing high-flying DPP lawyer Lisa Munro for cocaine possession in July.

New Treatment the Key to Addiction

With cocaine reportedly on the rise, news of a possible new treatment to help with addiction has been welcomed by drug treatment professionals.

A research team led by American and Australian universities announced earlier this year that they had discovered an immune receptor that increased the addictive properties of certain drugs such as morphine and cocaine. The team found that when cocaine was combined with naloxone it did not bind to the immune receptor, and therefore failed to activate the ‘reward areas of the brain.’

The team hopes that its discovery will pave the way to treating cocaine and other drug addictions.

August 27, 2015 Drug Supply
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Silk Road Sentence Fails to Deter Online Drug Trade

Remember The Silk Road?

The online marketplace became notorious for buying and selling illegal items, such as drugs and firearms, through a sophisticated network which promised anonymity.

The site was shut down in 2013 after it was infiltrated by US government agencies, who identified American web developer Ross Ulbricht as the founder.

Following a lengthy trial earlier this year, Ulbricht was convicted of multiple criminal offences, including drug trafficking, participating in a criminal enterprise, hacking and money laundering.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment, without any chance of parole.

Ulbricht’s criminal lawyers recently filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence, calling it ‘unreasonable, unjust and unfair,’ and arguing that it is ‘based on improper considerations that have no basis in fact or law.’

Sentencing Judge Katherine Forrest made it clear that the penalty was intended to send a strong message that ‘without equivocation… there will be severe consequences’ for engaging in the online drug trade.

But despite Judge Forrest’s warning, a recent study found that the sentence has done little to deter others from participating in such activities.

Dark Web More Popular Than Ever

Researchers at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University conducted a study to determine how many dark websites continued to operate online in the wake of Ulbricht’s sentence.

What they found was astonishing: 35 online marketplaces were alive and well, drawing in between $100 and $180 million in sales annually – or $300,000 to $500,000 daily.

In comparison, the Silk Road was producing just $22 million in sales per year at the height of its popularity.

Based upon these figures, the researchers suggest that the closure of the Silk Road has done little to deter online drug transactions.

The Silk Road saga has, however, alerted site administrators to the dangers involved in running dark websites – which has resulted in the adoption of better security measures, such as ‘crypto software’ which allows buyers to send encrypted messages.

What are the Most Commonly Traded Drugs?

Research was also conducted into the types of drugs most commonly traded on the Dark Web.

It was found that marijuana and MDMA (‘ecstacy’) were the most common, followed by cocaine and prescription medications.

An Economic Argument

Although the Silk Road has made headlines for major drug busts, the study found that most online drug traders sell small quantities, with around 70% selling less than $1,000 worth. Just 2% sold more than $100,000 worth of products.

And while the grand total of $100 million in sales seems like a lot, researchers are quick to remind us that it is a small figure compared with the global drug trade, which reaps in an estimated $321.6 billion per year. This means that the vast majority of drug trading occurs through more traditional means, with online drug sales accounting for just 0.1% of all sales.

Despite this, law enforcement agencies continue to spend millions of dollars each year trying to shut down these websites.

According to researchers, this approach is counterproductive because online platforms lead to safer drug use and a lower risk of violence during transactions. They say that such platforms are not linked to major drug cartels and associated crime in the same way as traditional methods.

Nicholas Christin, one of the key researchers involved in the study, believes that there is much to learn from online drug trading platforms. He argues that accessibility to an online review system means that low-quality or dangerous drugs are quickly identified and weeded out. He hopes that the study will help shape ‘meaningful public policy toward online anonymous marketplaces.’

Christin believes that the enormous expenditure on shutting down these sites is unlikely to lead to their demise. He hopes that law enforcement agencies will stop wasting time and tax-payer money infiltrating these sites as:

‘economics tell us that because user demand for drugs online is present (and quite massive), enterprising individuals will seemingly always be interested in accommodating this demand.’

June 11, 2015 Drug Manufacture, Drug Supply, Drugs General
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Would You ‘Dob In a Drug Dealer’?

Australian politicians and police have waged a ‘War on Drugs’ since the first National Drug Strategy was unveiled in 1985.

But despite consecutive campaigns to curb illicit drug use by imposing tougher penalties for drug supply, statistics suggest that more and more Australians are using drugs.

The latest in a nationwide bid to crack down on drug manufacturers and suppliers is the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign, facilitated by Crime Stoppers and state and territory police forces.

What Does the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ Campaign Involve?

According to the Victorian Crime Stoppers website, the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign encourages members of the community to ‘report information on drug manufacture and distribution to bring awareness to the drug problem.’

Crime Stoppers says that the campaign is focussed on catching dealers and manufacturers, rather than drug users.

The program has already been trialled in a number of other parts of Australia, including Victoria’s Goulburn Murray region, where methamphetamine use is said to be rampant.

Police say that their services are already stretched due to the widespread nature of drug use in many regions, with frontline services facing ‘significant pressure’ when users overdose or engage in violence. They hope that the campaign will ‘relieve some of the pressure on key services’ and aid in ridding the streets of drug dealers.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw recently called on the public to ‘dob in’ dealers to combat the spread of ice in the territory. Speaking on public radio, he encouraged people with information on drug dealers – including relatives, children and other loved ones – to come forward to police.

Whilst acknowledging that dobbing in a friend or relative would be a ‘challenging decision to make,’ Kershaw cited information from the public as a driving factor behind increased drug lab busts.

Victorian Crime Stoppers has reported a surge in the amount of information from the public about ice activity, with reports increasing a whopping 427% since the campaign began. The organisation has described the results as ‘very encouraging’.

So, what are the Problems?

Despite the positive reports surrounding the ‘Dob In a Dealer’ campaign, several experts are of the view that programs focusing on enforcement rather than education and prevention are futile and even counter-productive.

At a recent conference drug reform conference hosted by the NSW Bar Association, a number of guest speakers from the health, education and legal professions expressed the view that prohibitionist approaches to drug use have failed and should be abandoned.

A paper published by the Bar Association also suggests that the ‘Dob In a Dealer’ campaign will be ineffective in tackling the problems associated with drug use and availability, and will do little to address problems in the community brought about by the misuse of drugs.

Matt Noffs, grandson of Ted Noffs who founded the Ted Noffs Foundation and Wayside Chapel, suggests that the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign might even end up doing more harm than good. He sees the campaign as a waste of public money, citing the US government’s failed yet extremely expensive approach to tackling marijuana use between 1998 and 2006 by directing advertisements towards young people.

Noffs also argues that despite reassurances by the police and Crime Stoppers, low-level users such as youths may be caught out by the campaign, while drug suppliers and manufacturers escape unscathed. The cost of incarcerating a young person is estimated to be around $150,000 – but it could end up being even more in the long run as it ‘often allows them to create large syndicates and realise a life of crime early on.’

Rather than calling on the public to report those who they suspect are engaged in drug supply or manufacture, Noffs suggests that a proactive approach aimed at treating drug users would be more beneficial and cost-effective, particularly given the huge costs of prosecuting and sending people to prison.

Other Consequences

Besides the potential to unfairly target users, there are also concerns that misinformed or irresponsible members of the public may end up lodging false reports against neighbours, friends or family members without any concrete evidence.

There are additional concerns about members of the public inadvertently exposing themselves to danger by ‘dobbing in’ potential drug dealers.

The problems become even more complex when the person doing the ‘dobbing in’ is a friend or relative of the suspect – in these cases, the ‘dobber’ may be living in close proximity to the suspect, and may even expose themselves or children to domestic violence.

But despite these issues and the views of experts working with those affected by drug use, the government seems keen to push on with its ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign and its punitive approach to drug use generally.

March 25, 2015 Drug Possession, Drug Supply
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Cracking Down on Australia’s Ice Epidemic – Will Baird’s Proposals Work?

A Sydney newspaper today has reported that Australia is in the midst of a ‘deadly ice age’, describing crystal methamphetamine (or ‘ice’) as a ‘vicious drug’ that is ‘destroying Australian society’. ‘

A rise in the use of ‘ice’ in both cities and regional areas has spurred calls for the government to clamp down on our ‘national ice epidemic’, while authorities have drawn attention to the effect of ice on previously-sleepy country towns.

In Wellington, a town in central western NSW, the problem is so bad that the town has been dubbed ‘Little Antarctica’ by locals who are too afraid to leave houses unattended due to concerns they will be broken into by ice addicts.

Ice also rampant in our cities, with police shutting down clandestine labs in fashionable inner-city suburbs such as Glebe, Surry Hills and Randwick.

But with the NSW election this weekend, Premier Mike Baird has vowed to tackle the ice epidemic if re-elected by targeting drug suppliers. His proposals, however, have drawn criticism from drug law reform specialists, who argue that his ‘tough on crime’ approach fails to address the underlying factors behind drug use.

What Has Baird Proposed?

Mike Baird is known for being tough on crime – announcing tougher sentencing regimes for a wide array of offences in recent weeks, along with broader police powers to deal with members of organised crime groups.

And it looks like he’s determined to apply his approach to the issue of ice, announcing a ‘multidimensional plan’ to address the problem. Baird’s proposal seeks to clamp down on manufacturers and suppliers of the drug by introducing more stringent measures for people seeking to buy pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in ice. The new measures will require pharmacists across the state to record all sales of pseudoephedrine in an online database.

Baird has also promised to triple the number of roadside drug tests carried out by police each year, pledging to give ‘police the resources they need to put more offenders before the courts.’ This is likely to result in an increase in the number of people charged with drug driving offences.

Unlike drink driving charges, drug driving does not require proof that a person had a certain level of drugs in their system or was affected by drugs when driving; only that there was any amount of drugs in their bloodstream, however little that amount might be.

Police will also have greater powers to confiscate and sell-off assets that have been purchased legally but are being used to commit crimes.

But the most controversial of the new measures is Baird’s proposal to halve the quantity of ice that is required to constitute a ‘large commercial quantity’ for supply offences. If the proposals are passed, suppliers of ice will be liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if they are found with 500 grams or more of ice in their possession.

Alongside these tough ‘law and order’ style proposals are pledges to invest in stimulant treatment services and to provide funding to non-government treatment services, particularly in rural areas.

The Baird government has also promised to introduce education programs in order to spread the word about the harmful effects of ice.

Will the Measures Work?

Although members of the community, politicians and drug law reform advocates tend to agree that the nation is in the midst of an ice epidemic, not everyone agrees on the Baird government’s approach to tackling the problem.

While drug rehabilitation organisations have welcomed the Premier’s proposal to increase funding to treatment services, they say that the measure does not go far enough. Matt Noffs is the chief executive of the Ted Noffs Foundation, which provides life management programs to at-risk youths. Mr Noffs says that Baird’s proposals are inadequate to address the epidemic and do not promote early drug intervention programs tailored to young people.

For many years, the Ted Noffs Foundation has run specialist counselling programs within state high schools to educate and assist students at risk of developing drug habits.The programs had been funded by the state government since the 1999 Drug Summit, but despite studies showing a massive increase in the number of young persons turning to ice, the Baird government ceased funding the programs at the end of last year.

Noffs says that early intervention and support programs are vital, and that the Foundation is currently overwhelmed, with over 1000 young people entering rehabilitation programs run by the organisation in the past year alone.

These statistics are backed by high school principals, who have reached out to the media claiming that ice is becoming increasingly present in school playgrounds. The accessibility of ice in schools has reportedly seen children as young as 12 falling victim to the highly addictive drug, and even resorting to prostitution in order to fund their habits.

Noffs and members of health and welfare groups have also criticised the Baird Government for rejecting calls to hold a Parliamentary Drug Summit in order to discuss and develop plans to address the state’s ice issue.

The last Drug Summit was held in 1999 and resulted in the establishment of the supervised injecting rooms in King’s Cross, which were instrumental in fighting Sydney’s heroin epidemic.

Since the injecting rooms opened, over 12,600 clients have been registered with the clinic, and not a single fatality has occurred on site.

A Drug Summit targeting amphetamine use has the potential to introduce similar measures to effectively tackle ice addiction. However, with the Premier intent on addressing the issue through a hardline law and order style approach, any prospect of a Drug Summit in the near future appears to be remote.