8.0 Introduction
Chapter Introduction
As noted in previous chapters (See Chapters on Canadian Drug Policy, and Drug Prohibition & the War on Drugs), prohibitionist-based drug policy, such as criminalization policies tied to the war on drugs, are ineffective at deterring the trade or use of psychoactive substances. Instead, such policies have had disastrous consequences, contributing to drug-related harms for PWUS and society more generally (IDCP, 2022, p. 5). As the voices of civil society calling for drug policy reform (e.g., public health workers, scientists, PWUS, and social advocacy groups) grow increasingly louder, the conversation around drug policy is gradually shifting away from criminalization towards health and human rights (e.g., UNGASS 2016; CEB, November 2022). Some countries are also enacting alternative drug control frameworks in the form of decriminalization or legalization. This chapter explores these policy alternatives and their potential benefits.
Chapter Objectives/Learning Outcomes
After completing the chapter materials, you should have an understanding of:
- Drug decriminalization, its various forms and benefits.
- Drug legalization, its various forms and benefits.
- The key differences between decriminalization and legalization.
- Examples of existing drug decriminalization and legalization.
Questions to Think About When Completing Chapter Materials
- Given the demonstrated benefits of alternative drug control policies, why are countries not decriminalizing or legalizing more psychoactive substances?
- What is the difference between de jure and de facto decriminalization?
- Most efforts to reform drug policy have focused on cannabis. If we were to change the current Canadian laws governing opioids, what form should the new policy take (decriminalization or legalization) and why?
- How do alternative drug control policies work in alleviating the harms tied to drug use, for both PWUS and society?
