The Penington Institute’s CEO, John Ryan, says cannabis has become an integral part of the criminal economy, and he contends that the drug is a health problem rather than a law and order problem.
“It’s shocking … how integrated it is to criminal networks. It’s an own goal for us. Police are already really busy. Cannabis is a health problem, not a law and order problem”, he said.
A report by the institute says dope is now a $5 billion black market in Australia, generating massive profits for transnational gangs, which are then channelled into international drug importations and other outlaw sectors.
