Lecture 4 : Regulating drugs: why do we have drug laws? Flashcards
What is the aim of drug control policies (in principle)?
(Don’t feel i need to learn but do need to understand)
Reducing number of users
Reducing number of people falling into bad habits
Reducing length those habits are maintained
Reducing the damage of drugs
Reducing the damage of drug trafficking
What is Prohibition
(Not on slides just useful to know and understand)
legal enforcement that bans the manufacture, storage, transportation, sale, possession, and use of certain substances, typically drugs or alcohol
(Banning it all)
What is the negative impact of drug prohibition?
(Don’t feel i need to learn but do need to understand)
Prohibition decreases the availability of drugs.
What are the consequential impacts of drug prohibition that might seem positive at a glance but have complex implications?
(Don’t feel i need to learn but do need to understand)
(+) risk for users (diluted, unsafe products)
(+) violence
(+) cost of enforcement
(+) people in prison (with little/no effect on supply)
(+) prices, less money for users
(+) risk of infectious diseases
What does legalisation of drugs entail in market societies?
What does legislation mean
allowing production, distribution and selling of drugs (as most of the goods in market societies)
How does the free market system affect drug production under legalisation?
companies can produce goods in large quantities and cheaply = + consumption (positive for books, but not bazookas or crack)
What are the potential benefits of legalising drugs in terms of costs associated with prohibition and if so what does it help?
Legalising drugs can reduce costs associated with prohibition, such as enforcement and maintaining prisons.
What are two factors involved in drug taking?
about choice
Personal choice and rationality.
What were some positive effects of alcohol prohibition in the US
(Alcohol banning)
Alcohol prohibition led to:
Reduction in deaths from cirrhosis of the liver (Reduction in Health)
No evidence of an overall increase in homicides
What were some negative effects of alcohol prohibition in the US?
(Alcohol banning)
Alcohol prohibition resulted in:
Empowerment of criminal organizations
Increased violence between criminal organizations
What happened to the retail price per gram of marijuana in Washington state after legalization?
The retail price per gram of marijuana decreased over time.
What is one anticipated effect of drug legalization on price and if so by how much?
Drug legalization may lead to a significant reduction in price, potentially dropping to as low as one-tenth of its current price. (1/10)
What changes in drug use environment might occur after legalization?
Legalization removes
legal risk and social disapproval while also increasing the availability of the drug.
How/what can we comaprare to understand the potential effects of drug legalization?
look at similar policies for other substances like tobacco and alcohol
What is a significant effect of cannabis legalization on law enforcement costs?
Cannabis legalization results in a drastic reduction in the cost of prosecuting cannabis offences.
What positive outcome is associated with cannabis legalization in terms of law enforcement?
Cannabis legalization leads to a reduction in negative outcomes related to cannabis arrests.
Is cannabis legalization related to violence and crime?
Cannabis legalization is not strongly related to violence or crime
What is the % of cannabis users purchase their cannabis from friends
Approximately 80% of cannabis users purchase their cannabis from friend
Can regulation and taxes limit the cons of legalization
Yes, but only to a certain extent.
what % of cannabis users receive cannabis for free?
Approximately 50% of cannabis users receive cannabis for free
What effect does a reasonable tax have on prices?
Reasonable taxes prices below the illicit price
What is the consequence of extremely high taxes on legalization?
Extremely high taxes Unable to kill illegal market
What is Portugal’s approach to drug policy
What is legal
What isnt
In Portugal since 2001, possession of any drugs for personal use has not been a crime
But selling drugs is still illegal
What can we learn from Portugal’s approach to drug policy
Consumption
Price
Quality
Consumption did not seem to have increased
Prices are the same
Drug quality/purity remains unchanged
What country implemented Decriminalisation/Depenalisation
Portugal
What does Decriminalization mean
(Not on lecture Slides)
is like a yellow light—it’s not fully legal, but it’s not heavily punished either. It’s more like a warning or a fine, similar to a traffic violation, rather than facing serious criminal consequences.
Where is the ‘Grow your own’ model adopted?
And where is grow and give
In States like Colorado and Oregon (Both USA) and Uruguay (along with the commercial model),
and
Washington DC with ‘grow and give’ policies.
What 2 countries have communal growing models?
Spain and Belgium
What are the features of communal growing models?
(Communal together)
Operate as ..
allow sharing and trading among cooperative group members. They’re supposed to operate as non-profits.
What are the pros and cons of communal growing models
Pro: can eliminate illicit market
Cons: covers/Masks for professional dealers, entrepreneurial
What is the Dutch model regarding cannabis?
The Dutch model does not legalize cannabis but allows sales in coffee shops for up to 5 grams since 1975
What remains illegal in the Dutch model?
Producing or importing cannabis is still a crime in the Dutch model
What is the ‘backdoor problem’ associated with the Dutch model?
refers to the illegal production or importing of cannabis despite its legal sale in coffee shops
Where are examples of the standard commercial model for cannabis?
Colorado and Washington are examples of the standard commercial model for cannabis.
What is The Commercial model
Similar to Alcohol supply -
Taxes are substantial
No sales to minors
No limit on potency (Strength/effectiveness)
