The legal regulation of drugs and role of government: Perspectives from people who use drugs

Greer, Alissa; Ritter, Alison

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107737

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Similarly, related criminological research inquiries, e.g. as related to use, crime and alternative control regime options, may be extended to currently criminalized, other illegal substances (e.g., illicit opioids or psych-stimulants) (Greer & Ritter, 2020; Hall, 2018; Taylor et al, 2016). While these are just further illustrative examples for mention, numerous other research issues and questions may be legitimately included in an emerging post-legalization research agenda for cannabis, depending on perspective and priorities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a “Post-Legalization” Criminology for Cannabis: A Brief Review and Suggested Agenda for Research Priorities

Fischer

Daldegan‐Bueno

Reuter

2020

Contemporary Drug Problems

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Cannabis control policies in a few countries have recently shifted from criminal prohibition-based regimes to legalization of use and supply. While cannabis’ newly emerging status of legality may suggest a coming “end” for criminology-based interest in the drug, these fundamental changes rather open a window to a new set of criminological research issues and questions, mostly focusing on cannabis use and related behaviors, and their relation to crime and justice. Based on a joint, personal record of several decades of criminological research on cannabis, we briefly review the rationale for five fundamental topics and issues of cannabis-related research associated with legalization. These include: 1) the deterrent effect of prohibition; 2) illicit production, markets and supply in a legalization regime; 3) use enforcement; 4) cannabis-impaired driving; 5) cannabis and crime. This constitutes an—albeit subjectively selective—“post-legalization” research agenda for a cannabis-focused criminology. Other possible areas of research focus or interest within fundamentally different paradigms of criminology (e.g., “critical criminology”) are identified and encouraged for development. Overall, the proposed research agenda for a post-legalization cannabis criminology should both contribute discipline-specific knowledge to improved cannabis-related public health and safety as well as allow for important debate and development in this evolving and important research field while entering a new (“post-legalization”) era.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a “Post-Legalization” Criminology for Cannabis: A Brief Review and Suggested Agenda for Research Priorities

Fischer

Daldegan‐Bueno

Reuter

2020

Contemporary Drug Problems

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“…There also may be merit in considering targeted outreach approaches (e.g. campaigns promoting less risky methods of cooking), or even the safe supply of methamphetamine within a legal, regulated context—an approach with the potential to reduce harms among a group who often experience various forms of disadvantage and marginalisation [24,25]. Given many cooks indicate manufacturing only for self‐consumption, these strategies may also reduce potential community harms associated with small‐scale methamphetamine manufacture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of methamphetamine production among an international sample of methamphetamine ‘cooks’

Puljević

Zahnow

Benfer

et al. 2020

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Introduction and Aims The illicit manufacture of methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories is associated with significant risks to the community and environment. Currently little is known about clandestine laboratories or the individual ‘cooks’ who operate them; current research directly engaging with cooks is limited to three qualitative studies with small samples (n < 24) of cooks based in the USA. This descriptive brief report starts to address this knowledge gap by exploring characteristics of an international sample of self‐identified methamphetamine cooks. Design and Methods Using data from the 2017 and 2018 Global Drug Surveys, we identified 125 individuals from 24 countries who reported past manufacture of methamphetamine. We explored respondents' socio‐demographic characteristics and patterns of methamphetamine production using descriptive statistics. Results The majority of methamphetamine cooks were male (82%) and Caucasian (70%) and, contrary to previous studies, 43% were employed and 51% had at least a high school certificate. Cooks most commonly sourced precursors from pharmacies (50%), followed by friends (24%). Almost half of the cooks (47%) produced methamphetamine exclusively for self‐consumption. Discussion and Conclusions The heterogeneous nature of the sample and varying precursor sources reflect the limitations of existing regulations aimed at limiting methamphetamine production. These findings point to the need for innovative and multi‐faceted efforts aimed at reducing and preventing the harms associated with methamphetamine manufacture.

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“…21 An alternative to decriminalization often advocated by drug policy activists is legalization and regulation, which includes a rule to control who can access what drugs and when. 22 Another primary concern with decriminalization is a possible increase in addiction and substance use; this will be addressed further in the essay. Decriminalization currently addresses some of the many fundamental issues within drug policy but still leaves many problems unaddressed.…”

Section: The Limitations and Challenges Of Decriminalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Stakes

Proctor

2023

CJAM

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Decriminalization and legalization of illicit drugs have been hot topics ever since they hit the black market, and they have progressed a long way since. The history and subject of drugs continues to be a controversial topic, but it is evident that we still need change. This essay differentiates the concepts of decriminalization and legalization, their effects on drug policy, and their impacts on the user, and argues for the legalization of illicit drugs in Canada. It is argued that the legalization of illicit drugs allows for proper addiction treatment, safe consumption, addresses the large amounts of overdoses and opioid crisis and reduces stigmatization. Systemic and fundamental change is needed in order to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of society as a whole.

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The legal regulation of drugs and role of government: Perspectives from people who use drugs

Cited by 18 publications

References 23 publications

Toward a “Post-Legalization” Criminology for Cannabis: A Brief Review and Suggested Agenda for Research Priorities

Toward a “Post-Legalization” Criminology for Cannabis: A Brief Review and Suggested Agenda for Research Priorities

Patterns of methamphetamine production among an international sample of methamphetamine ‘cooks’

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