The organisers of the festival said that new methods were needed, because sniffer dogs and strip searches were very clearly not working.
The director of the festival, Tim Harvey, said this:
“It’s really legislative change that’s preventing us from looking at it.We need some progressive and brave politicians who recognise the current approach isn’t working and can communicate the benefits of changing strategies to the mainstream Australian population.”
Adriana, the mother of Daniel Buccianti – a young man who tragically passed away from a drug overdose at Rainbow Serpent in 2012 – has started a Change.org petition to show the government we want pill-testing, and we want as soon as goddamn possible.
The poor mum, whose story about the loss of her son is heartbreaking, said this:
“The ‘pill-testing’ services tell people exactly what substance they would be about to take – and it’s helping stop deaths. The Queensland Government are considering it, but too many kids are dying and it’s not yet policy.I’m pleading: please help me stop more young people dying at festivals this summer. Introduce drug-checking services.”
The petition has already amassed nearly 30,000 signatures, and if you’d like to help save the lives of young Australians who engage with recreational drug use, you can SIGN IT HERE.
Earlier today, we showed ya’ll our interview with Unharm Australia director Will Tregoning, where we discussed how Australia could (and should) change their attitudes towards drug use for the better. ICYMI:
Harm minimisation > prohibition. It’s so obvious that it works; drugs will always be a part of life and people are always going to take them.
Let’s minimise the risk – it’s not bloody rocket science, Australia.
Source: The Age.
Photo: Rainbow Serpent Facebook.
