The latest police data shows the likelihood of being charged for drug use and possession is now about 50-50. 

That likelihood drops to 17 percent for first time offenders - down from 50 percent in 2016 and most of 2017. 

If police catch you with cannabis, the chances of being charged are about 1 in 3 - but it's still high for meth - at about 3 in 4.  

Former Detective Inspector Lance Burdett told Mike Hosking there needs to be thought put into the discretion of charges and the drivers of drug use in the first place.  

"We're just sort of putting the ambulance at the bottom the cliff rather than looking at this thing holistically."

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