Global Trends in Decriminalisation: A Quiet Revolution

Jamie Bridge International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) on behalf of Release

Thursday 14th March 2013jbridge@idpc.net

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