5 ms·

Australian drug tests show 40% of 'official cocaine' had no cocaine

IlPeach 4y ago
But they don't say what it contained...
- giuliomagnifico 4y ago
  > including finding methamphetamine that was actually sugar
- peanut_worm 4y ago
  Probably research chemicals or amphetamine
pestatije 4y ago
Would that affect conviction sentences? Like, if i'm actually selling sugar instead of cocaine but pretending it to be cocaine.
- staticautomatic 4y ago
  IDK about Australian law, but in the US, no.
- rhyselsmore 4y ago
  In Australia, no. Let’s say you’re an undercover cop, and I sell you what I say is 3g of cocaine, but turns out there is only 0.1g in there. I’ll still be charged and convicted on the 3g.
  - porknubbins 4y ago
    If I sell .1g cocaine I have still committed the regular version of the crime though. Its just that we measure drugs as a final product not the amount of the active ingredient because drug sellers/buyers don’t have a great way to measure that. On the other hand if I sell powdered sugar as cocaine I have committed a different offense.
    - rhyselsmore 4y ago
      “a substance (not being a prohibited drug) which, for the purpose of its being supplied, is represented (whether verbally, in writing or by conduct) as being a prohibited drug or a specified prohibited drug, for the purposes of this Act and the regulations, be deemed to be a prohibited drug or the specified drug, as the case requires.” Nope. Claiming that the 3g of powdered sugar is cocaine? You’re getting done with supply.
      - brandnewaccount 4y ago
        Easy. Then we just sell the cocaine while claiming it is powdered sugar. Worst case we get booked for sale of food items without a license.
- xhkkffbf 4y ago
  I believe that fraud charges would be in order.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
threesquared 4y ago
What does "70 health interventions were made" mean?
- everforward 4y ago
  A health intervention is usually any action taken to increase the health of the subject. In this case, I think they're talking about referring people to rehab or other treatment for substance abuse.
bediger4000 4y ago
This testing absolutely cannot be done in the USA: the drug laws and the prevailing puritanical attitudes would deem such testing to be promoting drug abuse.
- mancerayder 4y ago
  Test kits are available online for almost any drug.
  - bediger4000 4y ago
    Sure. And you get an individual result. One result. This Australian government program covers a large number of samples therefore yielding a picture of the entire drug supply. Further, the data is available to more than the individual. An individual drug test can make one person more informed. This program makes all of us more informed.
guythedudebro 4y ago
I would have guessed a much higher number

But they don't say what it contained...

giuliomagnifico 4y ago
> including finding methamphetamine that was actually sugar
peanut_worm 4y ago
Probably research chemicals or amphetamine

Would that affect conviction sentences? Like, if i'm actually selling sugar instead of cocaine but pretending it to be cocaine.

staticautomatic 4y ago
IDK about Australian law, but in the US, no.
rhyselsmore 4y ago
In Australia, no. Let’s say you’re an undercover cop, and I sell you what I say is 3g of cocaine, but turns out there is only 0.1g in there. I’ll still be charged and convicted on the 3g.
- porknubbins 4y ago
  If I sell .1g cocaine I have still committed the regular version of the crime though. Its just that we measure drugs as a final product not the amount of the active ingredient because drug sellers/buyers don’t have a great way to measure that. On the other hand if I sell powdered sugar as cocaine I have committed a different offense.
  - rhyselsmore 4y ago
    “a substance (not being a prohibited drug) which, for the purpose of its being supplied, is represented (whether verbally, in writing or by conduct) as being a prohibited drug or a specified prohibited drug, for the purposes of this Act and the regulations, be deemed to be a prohibited drug or the specified drug, as the case requires.” Nope. Claiming that the 3g of powdered sugar is cocaine? You’re getting done with supply.
    - brandnewaccount 4y ago
      Easy. Then we just sell the cocaine while claiming it is powdered sugar. Worst case we get booked for sale of food items without a license.
xhkkffbf 4y ago
I believe that fraud charges would be in order.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

threesquared 4y ago

What does "70 health interventions were made" mean?

everforward 4y ago
A health intervention is usually any action taken to increase the health of the subject. In this case, I think they're talking about referring people to rehab or other treatment for substance abuse.

bediger4000 4y ago

This testing absolutely cannot be done in the USA: the drug laws and the prevailing puritanical attitudes would deem such testing to be promoting drug abuse.

mancerayder 4y ago
Test kits are available online for almost any drug.
- bediger4000 4y ago
  Sure. And you get an individual result. One result. This Australian government program covers a large number of samples therefore yielding a picture of the entire drug supply. Further, the data is available to more than the individual. An individual drug test can make one person more informed. This program makes all of us more informed.

guythedudebro 4y ago

I would have guessed a much higher number