Transcript Folie 1 - Espolea

Global Trends in
Decriminalisation:
A Quiet Revolution
Jamie Bridge
International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
on behalf of Release
Thursday 14th March 2013
[email protected]
About Release
• Centre of expertise on drugs and the law
• Founded in 1967
• Provides free advice, and campaigns for
changes to UK drug policy
• “Drugs – It’s Time for Better Laws”
campaign launched in 2011
The Harms of Criminalisation
• Barriers to health service access
• Employment, education and housing
• Travel restrictions
• Demonisation of people who use drugs
• Significant financial implications
• Visit www.countthecosts.org
Definition of Decriminalisation
• No criminal record
• Included states where only cannabis has
been decriminalised
• Included ‘de jure’ and ‘de facto’ models
• Excluded escalated approaches
Decriminalisation in Practice
de jure decriminalisation of drug possession
de jure decriminalised of some cannabis offences
Laws against possession have been deemed unconstitutional
de facto decriminalisation of drug possession
Other cases
Decriminalisation in Practice
• Portugal
– Well evidenced and debated
– Reduction in youth and problematic drug use
• Czech Republic
– Cost-benefit analysis of criminal system
– Assessment of drug using patterns to set
thresholds
Decriminalisation in Practice
• Australia
– Comparison studies between criminalised and
decriminalised states
– Negative impact of criminalisation on
employment, relationship and accommodation
• USA
– Cannabis use decriminalised in 14 states
– Moves to create regulated markets in
Washington and Colorado
Areas of Caution
• Who determines the offence?
• Low thresholds for personal use =
hollow models of decriminalisation
• ‘Net-Widening’
• Varied sanctions available
• Referrals require robust
treatment systems
Conclusions
• Decriminalisation models found around the
world – many remain overlooked
• Further research is needed:
– Economic analyses, implementation evaluations;
thresholds; impacts on stigma and access to
treatment; police attitudes
• Evidence to challenge the fallacy that
decriminalisation increases
drug use
www.supportdontpunish.org