Kyle Sandilands, on his new radio show "Kyle Sandilands Live," suggested legalizing and selling cocaine in pharmacies like Chemist Warehouse to reduce the dangers associated with criminal involvement. He argued that regulated sales could ensure purity and potentially decrease consumption. The proposal sparked mixed reactions among listeners, with some supporting safer access and others opposing the idea outright due to perceived risks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kyle Sandilands, an Australian shock jock, sparked debate about drug laws on his new radio show by suggesting that cocaine should be legal and sold at major pharmacies like Chemist Warehouse. On his program "Kyle Sandilands Live," he argued that regulating cocaine through pharmacies would make more sense than trying to prevent its use. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is currently the only jurisdiction in Australia where small personal-use amounts of cocaine are decriminalized, but possession remains unlawful and confiscated by authorities. Despite this, Sandilands believes legalizing and controlling cocaine could address issues related to drug abuse and user behavior more effectively.
Written for “Cocaine Legalization Debate” on 2026-09-17,
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Kyle Sandilands has reignited debate over Australia's illicit drug laws after suggesting cocaine should be legalised and sold at Chemist Warehouse.
The shock jock named Australia's largest pharmacy retailer while calling for cocaine to be legalised and supplied through regulated outlets on his new Kyle Sandilands Live show on Wednesday.
The Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia where small personal-use amounts of cocaine and other illicit drugs are decriminalised.
However, possession of the drug in the ACT remains unlawful and the substances are confiscated.
asserted
substances → see → ACT
'Australians take too many illicit drugs, and it is absurd how much money users are willing to pay for them,' she said.
asserted
she → take → them
Sandilands weighed in on the debate by calling for cocaine to be legalised and its distribution regulated through pharmacies.
asserted
distribution → weigh → pharmacies
'What I think they should do with the cocaine is this,' he began.
asserted
he → think → cocaine
Kyle Sandilands called for the decriminalisation of cocaine
He called for cocaine to be sold over the counter at major pharmacies such as Chemist Warehouse
'Stop try to stop people snorting coke, put the f***king cocaine for sale at Chemist Warehouse, so it's pure, it's a full gram.
asserted
it → call → Warehouse
'Who cares if someone's blasting some lines?
'
asserted
someone → care → lines
It's very dangerous for what they're cutting it with.
asserted
they → cut → it
'If you really cared about people's lives, you would decriminalise it, and I reckon people would probably slow down buying it.
asserted
people → care → it
'
Chemist Warehouse has about 560 locations nationwide.
asserted
Warehouse → have → locations
There is no suggestion Chemist Warehouse supports Sandilands' proposal.
asserted
Warehouse → be → proposal
The Daily Mail has contacted Chemist Warehouse for comment.
asserted
Mail → contact → comment
Sandilands' comments drew mixed reactions from listeners over whether regulation could reduce some of the risks associated with illicit drug use.
uncertain
regulation → draw → use
Sandilands weighed into the debate after AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett declared that Australians take too many illicit drugs
The ACT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where small personal-use amounts of cocaine and other illicit drugs are decriminalised
One argued: 'Safely controlled is better than underground zero control.'
asserted
controlled → weigh → control
A second said: 'Kyle for PM.'
Other listeners disagreed.
asserted
listeners → say → PM
'If it’s such a dangerous drug, why would you sell it on the shelf at chemist behind the counter?
asserted
you → ’ → counter
That’s stupid isn’t it?' one man wrote.
asserted
wrote → ’ → ?
Another added: 'Very bad idea.
asserted
Another → add → idea
Former criminal turned journalist Ryan Naumenko added: 'This is ridiculous...
asserted
This → turn → ?
Coke use shouldn't even be joked about.'
Another listener questioned how heavily legal cocaine would be taxed.
asserted
cocaine → joke → ?
'Imagine the tax on that,' they added.
asserted
they → imagine → that
Sandilands' call for Chemist Warehouse to sell cocaine sparked a mixed response from Aussies
Kyle Sandilands has previously said that he was a cocaine addict after separating from his first wife Tamara Jaber
The former KIIS FM star has previously said he was a cocaine addict for a number of years in the late 2000s, using it to cope with personal issues like his divorce.
asserted
he → sell → divorce
In 2018, Sandilands said on his breakfast program to 'burying his face in a pile of cocaine' to get over his 2010 divorce from former pop star Tamara Jaber.
asserted
Sandilands → say → Jaber
'You know the divorce had happened, it was just... life wasn't great back then,' he told his then-breakfast co-host Jackie O.
'
asserted
he → know → co
So I buried my face in a big pile of cocaine to try and get over it and it didn't work.
asserted
it → bury → it
While the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction to have decriminalised possession of small amounts of cocaine, the Early Drug Diversion Initiative allows NSW Police to issue eligible adults with a $400 fine instead of taking them to court for low-level drug possession.
asserted
Police → decriminalise → possession
Recipients can pay the fine or complete a free telephone health intervention to resolve it.
asserted
Recipients → pay → it
Police retain discretion to lay charges, and the scheme does not decriminalise possession.
asserted
scheme → retain → possession
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