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Last Update: Friday, March 3, 2006. 7:06am (AEDT)
SA Opposition pledges hard line on cannabis
The South Australian Liberal Party has pledged to make possessing or growing any amount of marijuana a criminal offence if it wins this month's state election.

It says since 1987 when personal use of cannabis was decriminalised the on-the-spot penalty has never been increased.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Robert Lawson says fines of $50 to $150 for possessing up to 100 grams of cannabis do not discourage offending.

"We believe the maximum fine should be up to $2, 500 - obviously it's up to the court to determine what the appropriate amount is," he said.

"It will depend on whether people have offended before, presently you pay the same fee whether this is the first or the 50th offence."