Drug policy reform

Drug policy reform, also known as drug law reform, generally refers to proposed changes to the laws and regulations that governments promulgate with respect to substances that have psychoactive effects or a real or perceived potential to be used for recreational or other non-medical reasons. Proponents of drug policy reform frequently argue that prohibition of recreational drugs—such as cannabis, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines and hallucinogens—has been ineffective and counterproductive and that substance use is better responded to by implementing practices for harm reduction and increasing the availability of addiction treatment. Another reform proposed is to introduce a regulatory regime for the production, marketing, and distribution of some or all currently illegal drugs in a manner analogous to that for alcohol and tobacco.

Proponents of drug law reform argue that relative harm should be taken into account in the regulation of controlled substances. Addictive or dependence-forming substances such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine have been a traditional part of many culture for centuries and remain legal in most countries, though other drugs which cause less harm than alcohol or tobacco are entirely prohibited, with possession punishable with severe criminal penalties.[1][2][3]

History

Initial attempts to change the punitive drug laws which were introduced all over the world from the late 1800s onwards were primarily based around recreational use. Timothy Leary was one of the most prominent campaigners for the legal and recreational use of LSD. In 1967, a "Legalise pot" rally was held in Britain.[4]

However, as death toll from the drug war rose, other organisations began to form to campaign on a more political and humanitarian basis. Drug Policy Foundation formed in America and Release, a charity which gives free legal advice to drugs users and currently campaigns for drug decriminalization, also incorporated in the 1970s.

Today, the focus of the world's drug policy reform organisations is on the promotion of harm reduction in the Western World, and attempting to prevent the catastrophic loss of human life in developing countries where much of the world's supply of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana are produced. Drug policy reform advocates point to failed efforts such as the Mexican Drug War, which according to some observers has claimed as many as 80,000 lives,[5] as signs that a new approach to drug policy is needed.

In 2014 within the European Union, a European Citizens' Initiative called Weed like to talk was launched with the aim of starting a debate in Europe about the legalization of the production, sale and use of marijuana in the European Union and finding a common policy for all EU member states.[6][7] As of June 30, 2014, the initiative has collected 100,000 signatures from citizens in European member states. Should they reach 1 million signatures, from nationals of at least one quarter of the member states, the European Commission will be required to initiate a legislative proposal and a debate on the issue.[8]

Proposed alternatives

Harm reduction

Harm reduction refers to a range of public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with recreational drug use and other high risk activities. Harm reduction is put forward as a useful perspective alongside the more conventional approaches of demand and supply reduction.[9]

Many advocates argue that prohibitionist laws criminalize people for suffering from a disease and cause harm, for example by obliging drug addicts to obtain drugs of unknown purity from unreliable criminal sources at high prices, increasing the risk of overdose and death.[10] Its critics are concerned that tolerating risky or illegal behaviour sends a message to the community that these behaviours are acceptable.[11][12]

Decriminalization

Drug decriminalization calls for reduced control and penalties compared to existing laws. Proponents of drug decriminalization generally support the use of fines or other punishments to replace prison terms, and often propose systems whereby illegal drug users who are caught would be fined, but would not receive a permanent criminal record as a result. A central feature of drug decriminalization is the concept of harm reduction.

Drug decriminalization is in some ways an intermediate between prohibition and legalization, and has been criticized as being "the worst of both worlds",[13] in that drug sales would still be illegal, thus perpetuating the problems associated with leaving production and distribution of drugs to the criminal underworld, while also failing to discourage illegal drug use by removing the criminal penalties that might otherwise cause some people to choose not to use drugs. Portugal was the first country in the world that has decriminalized the use of all drugs. This generally means anyone caught with any type of drug, if it classifies as being for personal consumption rather than sale, will not be imprisoned. However, Mexico City has decriminalized certain drugs and Greece has just announced that it is going to do so. Spain has also followed the Portugal model. Italy after waiting 10 years to see the result of the Portugal model, which Portugal deemed a success, has since recently followed suit. In May 2014, the Criminal Chamber of the Italian Supreme Court upheld a previous decision in 2013 by Italy's Constitutional Court, to reduce the penalties for the convictions for sale of soft drugs.[14][15]

Some other countries have virtual decriminalization for marijuana only, in three US states, Colorado,[16] Washington, and Oregon, one Australian state (SA) and in the Netherlands there are legal marijuana cafes. In the Netherlands these cafes are called "coffee shops"[17]

Legalization

Drug legalization calls for the end of government-enforced prohibition on the distribution or sale and personal use of specified (or all) currently banned drugs. Proposed ideas range from full legalization which would completely remove all forms of government control, to various forms of regulated legalization, where drugs would be legally available, but under a system of government control which might mean for instance:[18]

  • mandated labels with dosage and medical warnings,
  • restrictions on advertising,
  • age limitations,
  • restrictions on amount purchased at one time,
  • requirements on the form in which certain drugs would be supplied,
  • ban on sale to intoxicated persons,
  • special user licenses to purchase particular drugs.

The regulated legalization system would probably have a range of restrictions for different drugs, depending on their perceived risk, so while some drugs would be sold over the counter in pharmacies or other licensed establishments, drugs with greater risks of harm might only be available for sale on licensed premises where use could be monitored and emergency medical care made available. Examples of drugs with different levels of regulated distribution in most countries include: caffeine (coffee, tea), nicotine (tobacco),[19] ethyl alcohol (beer, wine, spirits), and antibiotics.

Full legalization is often proposed by groups such as libertarians who object to drug laws on moral grounds, while regulated legalization is suggested by groups such as Law Enforcement Against Prohibition who object to the drug laws on the grounds that they fail to achieve their stated aims and instead greatly worsen the problems associated with use of prohibited drugs, but who acknowledge that there are harms associated with currently prohibited drugs which need to be minimized. Not all proponents of drug re-legalization necessarily share a common ethical framework, and people may adopt this viewpoint for a variety of reasons. In particular, favoring drug re-legalization does not imply approval of drug use. Decriminalization and legalisation is also supported by rationalists, who also support free adult access to all plants that grow in the earth as an essential human right, currently being denied by most governments.[20]

Groups advocating change

The Senlis Council, a European development and policy thinktank, has, since its conception in 2002, advocated that drug addiction should be viewed as a public health issue rather than a purely criminal matter. The group does not support the decriminalisation of illegal drugs. Since 2003, the Council has called for the licensing of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in order to manufacture poppy-based medicines, such as morphine and codeine, and to combat poverty in rural communities, breaking ties with the illicit drugs trade. The Senlis Council outlined proposals for the implementation of a village based poppy for medicine project and calls for a pilot project for Afghan morphine at the next planting season.[21]

Organisations involved in lobbying, research and advocacy

Canada

  • Le Dain Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs

Europe

  • Beckley Foundation
  • Drug Equality Alliance (DEA)
  • European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies (ENCOD) (Branches in Austria, Germany and Norway)
  • Legalize.net (Netherlands)
  • Re:Vision Drug Policy Network [22] (United Kingdom)
  • Regulación Responsable (Spain)
  • Release (agency) (United Kingdom)
  • Students for Sensible Drug Policy UK [23] (United Kingdom)
  • Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Australia

  • Drug Policy Australia[24]
  • Network Against Prohibition

New Zealand

  • The Helen Clark Foundation[25]
  • The STAR Trust[26]

United States

Political parties with drug law reform policies

Australia

  • Australian Greens[30][31]
  • Drug Law Reform Australia[32]
  • Reason Party (Australia)[33][34]
  • Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party[35]
  • Legalise Cannabis Queensland
  • Legalise Cannabis Western Australia Party

Canada

  • Liberal Party of Canada
  • New Democratic Party of Canada

Netherlands

New Zealand

  • Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand[37]

United Kingdom

  • Green Party of England and Wales
  • Liberal Democrats[38][39][40]

International

  • Pirate Party

See also

References

  1. ↑ World health report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life
  2. ↑ The Good Drugs Guide. "Magic Mushrooms–Frequently Asked Questions". Frequently Asked Questions. The Good Drugs Guide. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  3. ↑ Report by the Dutch Government Stating Psilocybin's Relative Harmlessness
  4. ↑ "A history of drug prohibition and a prediction for its abolition and replacement". Transform Drug Policy Foundation. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  5. ↑ Davison, Janet; Stastna, Kazi. "Mexico's cartels: Behind the drug war". CBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Manifesto". Weed like to talk. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "A European solution to a European issue : legalizing cannabis". Weed like to talk. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Bovey, Chris (2014-02-23). "EU cannabis petition requires one million signatures". NORML UK. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Marlatt, G. Alan (2002). "Highlights of Harm Reduction". Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors. Guilford Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-57230-825-1.
  10. ↑ Inciardi, James A.; Harrison, Lana D. (2000). Harm reduction: national and international perspectives. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE. pp. vii–viii.
  11. ↑ "INCB 2001 Annual Report - Oceania" (PDF). p. 559. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  12. ↑ "Anger as Vice Girls Get Free Condoms". Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  13. ↑ Lilley, Peter. "Drugs haze". Prospect Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Figueroa, Dante. "Italy: Constitutional Decision Upholding Decriminalization of Soft Drugs". Library of Congress. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Szalavitz, Maia (2009-04-26). "Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?". Time. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009.
  16. ↑ Sullum, Jacob. "Colorado Couple To Open First Officially Approved Cannabis Café". Forbes. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "Amsterdam Coffeeshops Guide". Amsterdam.info. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  18. ↑ After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation, Transform Drug Policy Foundation (12 Nov 2009)
  19. ↑ Tobacco regulation: Saving livings vs personal freedom, Transform Drug Policy Foundation (3 Feb 2010)
  20. ↑ Reformers and not 'pro-drug' Mr Costa, Transform Drug Policy Foundation (7 Dec 2009)
  21. ↑ "Poppy for Medicine Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine" (June 2007)
  22. ↑ Re:Vision Drug Policy Network
  23. ↑ "Students for Sensible Drug Policy UK". Archived from the original on 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  24. ↑ Drug Policy Australia
  25. ↑ "Poll: Do you agree with the Helen Clark Foundation's recommendations on drug law reform?". Newshub. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  26. ↑ The STAR Trust Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ American Civil Liberties Union Drug Law Reform Accessed 2010-02-15
  28. ↑ LEAP
  29. ↑ NORML Archived December 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "Australian Greens". Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  31. ↑ "NSW Greens". Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  32. ↑ "Drug Law Reform Australia".
  33. ↑ "Federal Policies". Reason Party (official website). Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  34. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (29 December 2019). "'New voices': Reason Party comes to NSW to revive push for assisted dying laws". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2020. As well as assisted dying laws, Ms Patten said the Reason Party's agenda in NSW would include drug reform, access to medical cannabis and co-ordinating a state-led revolt against the federal religious freedom legislation.
  35. ↑ "hemp grassroots campaign hot on the heels of Palmer's $60 million ad barrage".
  36. ↑ Buitenweg, Kathalijne (30 July 2018). "Green Observatory: Drug Policy". Green European Journal. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  37. ↑ "Drug Law Reform Policy - Towards a Harm Reduction Model". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  38. ↑ "Lib Dems back radical drug policy". BBC News. 2002-03-09.
  39. ↑ "LibDem Conference passes drugs motion".
  40. ↑ "Home" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
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