Cigarettes are 'not normal' - but drugs are fine

Australia would appear, at first glance, to have completely lost the plot.

All shops and tobacconists in the ACT are required by law to remove tobacco products, such as cigarettes, from public display by the end of the year.

Every Australian state either has similar laws already in force, or laws that will be phased in by 2013, on the basis that research shows point-of-sale displays promote and normalise smoking.

In 2008, ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher told the Assembly, "The territory will be the first to send the message that it is not normal."

Yep. A legal product is now deemed 'not normal'.

Illegal products, however, ...

But while tobacco is banned from display, equipment used to consume illegal drugs such as cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine can be displayed at shopping centres throughout the ACT.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell said there are no plans to ban the display of drug paraphernalia in the ACT.

... are as normal as barbecues and sunscreen in the land where they take to the waves on an ironing board.

"The Government is not currently considering a ban on the display of such drug smoking paraphernalia," a spokesman for the minister said.

Well, of course not. They haven't developed pharma-manufactured drug cessation therapy to sell to the Australian government yet.

Besides, pharma may have an eye on manufacturing the drugs themselves if the growing movement for legalisation bears fruit.

Just saying, is all.