The ACT government has released the first ever ‘red alert’ over a drug detected through Australia’s first fixed pill testing site. […]
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What’s in the drugs that are being tested at Australia’s first fixed-site pill testing clinic in the ACT?
A total of 500 samples have been tested at CanTEST in Canberra’s CBD since it opened in July as a drug-harm minimisation bid from the ACT government.
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World Pride 2023 & Pill Testing
HRA Letter to NSW Premier to approve Pill Testing Australia request to provide pill testing services at World Pride 2023 events in Sydney
[…]Decriminalising cannabis could save Australian taxpayers $850m a year, report finds
New public health research says Australia’s prohibition approach to marijuana is not keeping pace with global best practice cannabis policy […]
Festival season, sniffer dogs and searches
Your guide to dealing with police at a festival […]
Demand so high for Canberra’s pill-testing service that 27 people were turned away ahead of Spilt Milk music festival
CanTEST extended its trading hours prior to the music festival Spilt Milk but still couldn’t meet demand […]
The ACT legislated to decriminalise possession of personal quantities of illicit drugs
By the time the ACT Legislative Assembly passed legislation on 20 October 2022 to commence the decriminalisation of personal quantities of all illicit drugs in October 2023, drug law reform was already well on its way around the world. […]
Sydneysiders declare city’s night-life is dead after sniffer dog video goes viral
Angry punters have declared that Sydney’s “night-life is dead”, after police were seen disturbing customers at a pub over the weekend. […]
ACT decriminalises drug possession: Labor MP Michael Pettersson on forging reform
That the century-old system of drug prohibition is a failure is well-established in legal circles, amongst medical experts, those who partake in illicit substances, families who’ve lost loved ones to the use of them, and a growing cross section of the community. […]
NSW government criticised in court over defence to music festival strip-searches
The government’s claim that strip-searches at music festivals could be reasonable – even if a judge finds they were unlawful – has been criticised in court as illogical. […]
Australia’s first fixed pill testing service CanTEST discovers new drug, dubbed ‘CanKet’
Australia’s first fixed pill testing site has discovered a new recreational drug not seen in the country before. […]
‘Canberra ketamine’: new recreational drug discovered at Australian pill-testing service
‘As far as we’re aware, this is the first detection of a new drug by a drug-checking service anywhere in the world,’ says professor […]
As Biden pardons pot possession, what does it mean to Australia’s War on Drugs?
Dr Alex Wodak, AM, is a former director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He is now chair of Australia21, an independent think tank. I spoke to him on Thursday […]
Legalise pot? It’s high time, says ex-stockbroker Michael. But do others agree?
According to former NSW magistrate David Heilpern, who resigned over the issue in 2020, the medicinal cannabis industry won’t be financially viable until the “absurd” laws are reformed […]
Lawyer accuses cops of giving young people ‘dangerous’ advice on drug charges
A Sydney lawyer has accused police of providing “dangerous and incorrect” information to festival goers charged with drug offences. […]
Long weekend festivals see 18 people hospitalised due to drug overdoses
The summer music festival season has begun – and already 18 people across two events have been hospitalised with suspected drug overdoses.
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‘A lot of MDMA that wasn’t MDMA’: The early results from inside Australia’s first drug testing clinic
Ever wondered what’s inside party drugs? We went behind the scenes of Australia’s first drug testing clinic in Canberra to see what you can expect when you go inside. […]
The Greens ‘relying on community support’ in new push to legalise cannabis
A constitutional law expert says the pathway to legalising cannabis is through regulating plant variety rights at a Commonwealth level. […]
HRA Statement on NSW Govt response to the Special Commission on Ice
This whole process has almost been a complete waste of money and time for everyone involved.
[…]VIDEO: Canberra considers introducing drug injecting room
A proposed drug strategy action plan will also assess whether more restrictions are needed on alcohol delivery services and vaping. […]
Debate on drug decriminalisation laws to pick up again as feedback on next steps sought
Drug decriminalisation laws will return to the ACT Legislative Assembly “shortly” as the government calls for community feedback on its updated drug action plan. […]
Canberra pill testing: What the lab found in Canberra’s drugs and why it’s important to know
By Malcolm McLeod, David Caldicott […]
Australia’s first government-backed pill testing clinic finds 40% of ‘cocaine’ contained no coke
Canberra service examined 58 samples in August with nearly a third of potential users discarding drugs once made aware of what they actually contained […]
ANU research uncovers shock truth of what’s in Australia’s party drugs
Research into Australia’s first government-backed pill testing service has revealed just what’s in some of the country’s most popular party drugs. […]
Queensland to examine pill test trial
“Is it in the best interest of individuals and festival goers, and will it lead to less deaths, less injuries and less drug use?” […]
Watch: What it’s like getting your drugs checked in New Zealand
Drug checking: NZ’s safe legal place to check your drugs […]
Some of the Most Conservative Corners of Regional Australia Support Legalising Cannabis
From Dickson to New England, here’s how some of Australia’s most conservative electorates feel about cannabis. […]
Police support “harm minimisation” approach of Canberra’s new pill testing service
Anna Vidot spoke with President of the Australian Federal Police Association Alex Caruana on Drive. […]
Hundreds join class action against NSW Police strip searches at music festivals
Music is a big part of Raya Meredith’s life, but these days she hesitates before going to a gig, scared she will be subject to a strip search by security or police. […]
THAILAND BREAKS AWAY FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA’S BRUTALLY PUNITIVE DRUG POLICIES
In a region that stands out for having some of the most brutally punitive drug policies in the world, it was astonishing to witness Thailand has become the first country in Asia to legalise cannabis. […]
The ACT’s bold pill-testing regime
Gino Vumbaca is president of Harm Reduction Australia. He and his team are behind the trial of the new facility which runs tests on drugs to make sure they’re safe for the user to take. He says trials at music festivals in recent years have undoubtedly saved lives. […]
The Forces Behind Australia’s First Fixed Pill Testing Site Hope It Sparks A National Trend
On Tuesday, Australia’s first fixed-site drug testing facility opened its doors in Canberra. During opening hours, two days a week, casual and routine drug users of all walks are encouraged to get their gear tested for threats. […]
Canberra to offer free pill testing at Australia’s first government-run drug-testing site
Drug users in the nation’s capital will be offered free pill testing in the CBD at Australia’s first government-run drug-testing site. […]
Pill testing has arrived in the ACT. Is it a sign of changing attitudes towards drugs?
In an Australian first, a fixed site drug and pill testing site is opening in Canberra with the aim of reducing the harm caused by illicit substances. […]
Letter to NSW Premier
Its Time for Drug Law Reform
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HRA Biennial Survey 2021-22
Submission to NSW Parliamentary Inquiry
Medicinal Cannabis & Driving
[…]Insurance companies have betrayed the community on pill-testing
HRA Executive Director Appointed
Media Release 17 Feb 2022
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