Pubdate: Mon, 19 Feb 2001
Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 The Dominion
Contact:  P O Box 1297, Wellington, New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 474-0350
Website: http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html
Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand)

EFFECT OF DRUG LAW QUESTIONED

Removing criminal penalties for cannabis possession might not lead to 
increased drug use, a report published in the British Journal of Psychiatry 
has found.

The study, sponsored by the United States RAND Drug Policy Research Centre, 
notes that a far greater percentage of Americans aged 12 and older (33 per 
cent) reported having tried cannabis than their Dutch counterparts (16 per 
cent).

This was despite the sale and possession of the drug being permitted in the 
Netherlands.

Dutch figures also indicated that decriminalisation appeared to have some 
success in separating cannabis from the hard-drug market. Similar findings 
were noted in Italy and Spain.

The authors concluded: "Our judgement, based on review of the research 
literature, is that at present the primary harms of marijuana use come from 
criminalisation. This prohibition inflicts harms directly and is costly."
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