The Sydney leg of the NSW Drug Summit opened on a subdued note Wednesday after the state government announced it would not pursue decriminalisation of small amounts of drugs held for personal use.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the government lacked a mandate for the change, despite pressure from organisations such as Harm Reduction Australia and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians to move in that direction.
The summit had already held two days of regional forums in Griffith and Lismore in early November before reconvening in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday.
Former MPs Carmel Tebbut and John Brogden are co-chairing the proceedings.
