Editing Drug prohibition (section)

=== Australia ===

A Nielsen poll in 2012 found that only 27% of voters favoured decriminalisation.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Metherell, Mark |author2=Davies, Lisa |name-list-style=amp |date=May 21, 2012 |title=Voters oppose relaxing drug laws despite failure of 'war' |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/voters-oppose-relaxing-drug-laws-despite-failure-of-war-20120520-1yz3h.html |access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> Australia has steep penalties for growing and using drugs even for personal use.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Lynch, Jared |author2=Thomson, Andrew |name-list-style=amp |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Marijuana crop costs man his home and 400,000 in bills |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/marijuana-crop-costs-man-his-home-and-400000-in-bills-20130101-2c4bm.html |access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Butcher, Steven |date=November 8, 2002 |title=Man turns Safeway seeds to opium |work=The Age |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/07/1036308423803.html |access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 6, 2013 |title=Tip-off led to cannabis drug bust |publisher=Maitland Mercury |url=http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/1343897/tip-off-led-to-cannabis-drug-bust/ |access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref> with Western Australia having the toughest laws.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bennett, Cortlan |date=March 29, 2012 |title=Parents face jail under tough WA drug laws |agency=Australian Associated Press |url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/parents-face-jail-under-tough-wa-drug-laws/story-e6frfkvr-1226311746631 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704091700/http://www.news.com.au/national-news/parents-face-jail-under-tough-wa-drug-laws/story-e6frfkvr-1226311746631 |archive-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> There is an associated anti-drug culture amongst a significant number of Australians. Law enforcement targets drugs, particularly in the [[Club drug|party scene]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Silva, Kristian |date=March 10, 2013 |title=Dozens arrested for drugs at music festival |work=The Age |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/dozens-arrested-for-drugs-at-music-festival-20130310-2fttz.html |access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, crime statistics in Victoria revealed that police were increasingly arresting users rather than dealers,<ref>{{cite news |author=Beck, Maris |date=April 13, 2012 |title=Police arrest more users than dealers |work=The Age |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-arrest-more-users-than-dealers-20120412-1wwp0.html |access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> and the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] government banned the sale of [[bong]]s that year.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2012 |title=Bong ban now in force |publisher=Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2874-bong-ban-now-in-force.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513162521/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2874-bong-ban-now-in-force.html |archive-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref>