We seem to be living in a police state where the 60s never happened.
The roadside drug testing is rampant these days and after reading Mary Sweet’s letter regarding her friend’s experience with this, I want to let people know we do have an alternative to this harassment.
Seriously Fact Up, on BayFM (Wed, 6am-9am), did a story on this last week and they have now posted on their FB site a card suitable for printing.
It states your rights which includes saying NO to being searched. Yes, if you are driving erratically and endangering lives and property the police should intervene but this random stopping people and subjecting them to ingesting chemicals reeks of a society we should be protesting.
What happened to the principal of being innocent until proven guilty?
These drug tests are invasive, costly and not reliable.
I have printed out the Statement For Police card, am carrying it in my wallet and I urge everyone to do the same.
With Mullum Music Fest on our doorstep, these police checks will be increasing. We need to band together and refuse this treatment before more of our rights are eroded away.
Sue Harrison, Ocean Shores
I am fully against the road side drug testing as it tests for ‘presence’ and not ‘impairment’. If a more accurate test for cannabis is developed and a set limit (like with alcohol) is introduced then I see the point, but how it is now is a joke. Many people are saying they are getting a positive test result and they have not taken drugs (for along time or ever).
What do you mean about this part – “but this random stopping people and subjecting them to ingesting chemicals reeks of a society we should be protesting” ???
Ingesting chemicals? The saliva tests don’t include ingesting chemicals do they? Can you explain please,
thanks.
PS) What a backwards way we are living when the government could be making millions from the legal sale of recreational cannabis (which doesn’t make people violent and is one of the most harmless drugs known to man) yet instead the government and police keep up with this failed war on drugs which is costing billions (over time) and wasting polices resources focusing on people growing and using a weed! How silly and pathetic.
If the government and police really wonted to address the DV issue and the alcohol and ice related violence issue they would allow cannabis to be sold legally to anyone over 18. It’s a much safer recreational drug than tobacco and alcohol (both which kill millions of people) yet cannabis has killed not a single person, anywhere in the world even with millions of people using it every single day.