Pill-testing trial needs to happen in Canberra

A focus on harm minimisation is noble and indeed educating people about the risk of drug taking is part of a successful strategy.

But not promoting a scheme where tests will indicate whether a drug is potentially lethal or not is a missed opportunity to contribute to harm minimisation.

While there are methods for people to easily obtain drugs such as ecstasy and MDMA, there should also be methods for them to test the quality.

Music festivals are the optimal place to trial such technology given the usually younger, more experimental demographic and the much-publicised presence of drug availability at the events.

Pill testing already occurs around the world and there is no good reason why Canberra should not be taking steps to facilitate a trial of the system.

The ACT government has shown support for the medicinal cannabis cause and has committed to legislate on the issue in the immediate future.

It would appear it is politically easier to embrace the softening of laws around this drug and its ability to ease the plight of people in tremendous pain and suffering.

But one would expect that a harm minimisation focus would allow for the prevention of devastating consequences to otherwise healthy people who take recreational drugs.

It is unfortunate that ACT Labor was unwilling to acquiesce with the ACT Green's proposal for a pill-testing trial in this term of government and that it is missing from the otherwise comprehensive parliamentary agreement the parties made following the election.

Similar to introducing a needle exchange program in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, the issue requires an acceptance by authorities that they cannot prevent drug-taking.

In the same way that it is politically unpopular to accept drugs will always get into a prison, they too will continue to be able to be sourced by festival goers inside the gates.

It is time for the territory to take a courageous stand on this issue.