Decriminalization dominates Australian drug summit

FILE - A person smokes fentanyl on April 12, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. The mayor of Portland spoke at a summit on drug reform in Sydney, Australia, this week, describing problems the city has encountered after Oregon decriminalized possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.

Australian authorities are being criticized for ruling out drug decriminalization at an international summit in Sydney this week, ignoring a call by many experts and health groups for a health care response to drug use and addiction rather than criminal penalties.