An 18 year-old in Australia was in court to answer to charges of possession of drugs, and his sentencing may well raise eyebrows. In addition to the usual sort of punishments for drug possession, 3 years probation and 100 hours community service, he has been ordered to produce a 2,000 word essay on the dangers of drugs.

While this allows me to use a title like ‘doing lines’ and feel all smug at the double-entendre, it still baffles me. The judge originally ordered him to produce a 3,000 word essay, but on account of being a thicko it was cut to 2,000 words – his lawyer said he would have trouble producing the longer version due to his poor grades at school.

The topic of the essay is the dangers of ecstasy and cannabis use (since he also admitted to using other drugs). It sounds more like the punishment for a kid found in school with drugs, not for someone arrested and pleading guilty to the offence.

Hopefully this could mean in future if you get caught speeding in your car, you could just write an essay on what a naughty boy you’ve been. Or if you murder someone, maybe a note saying ’sorry’ will suffice.

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