'Laws ineffective in curbing cannabis use'

A new book published by the Beckley Foundation and Oxford University Press has concluded that cannabis prohibition policies have comprehensively failed and that a new approach to cannabis policy is urgently needed.

In this book, experts say that while the drug harmed some users, it had only a modest effect on society, where cocaine and alcohol were potentially more damaging.

Researcher Peter Reuter said authorities should acknowledge "growing evidence that criminalization of use is a minor deterrent" and recognize the importance of developing "responsible ways of managing supply, rather than creating large illegal markets". Much like the coffeeshop system in the Netherlands, although its current conservative government aims to crack down on these cannabis outlets.

A crucial conclusion of the book is that there appears to be no apparent link between cannabis policy - whether draconian or liberal - and prevalence of use. Thus liberal approaches appear to be preferable, as they minimise the adverse consequences arising from the law and its enforcement.

Read the full article here.

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Comentarios

Joe - 2010-01-27 02:23:53

+12

the absolute truth. people will always smoke weed. i expect it will be the case untill the end of time (or plants).
the law cant stop it, but only make it illegal. William Blake claimed that "prisons are built with stones of law"
by which he meant it is only the laws that make crimes bad. energy and natural desire has been made sin. this shouldnt be the case.

just look at Holland, the people who like weed smoke it. the people that dont like it dont smoke it. easy.
look at Portugal. all drug use decriminalised. usage has not increased and may have decreased.
in Australia they want to ban bongs, but it wont make a difference. maybe more people will smoke from bent coke cans and do their lungs in, or even in more joints and get more addicted to the tobacco.
this is all very stupid.
the government need to sort it out.
let it be. let weed flourish. just incourage responsibility!

Sponge - 2010-01-27 10:53:39

Sad thing is, as true as the article and what Joe said may be, it probably wont make a blind bit of difference to the government's way of thinking...
:(

Joe - 2010-01-27 13:56:10

yep.
u are exactly right Sponge. they refuse advice from their drugs commities and they show real prejudice when it comes to drugs users...
i wander if any of them actually do enjoy a nice joint or two...? cos so many of them tried it at school... what they always fail to mention when they say that is the second line: "and i loved it!"
noone is willing to make a move in the right direction or even make a stand because politics is too much about covering ur own back, too little about the answers and the best options.
the drugs czar was dismissed for just telling the truth, he wasnt even attempting to force any change.
i'm not very optimistic.

gaboss - 2010-01-27 21:10:10

me neither :(

Manos - 2010-01-27 22:09:51

Yeah...The biggest problem lies not in the government but in the industry and the banks.Their point of view is making profit wherever possible.How can they do that?Through making wars,leeching out smaller countries and through debts everybody has.All governments have huge debts to the banks.Because of that they don't want open minded people,they don't want thinking people,they want aggressive,stupid and fanatic people,they are easy to control,they will make wars,they will make huge debts without thinking...That is how the controlling people behind the scene want us to be...Simpleminded morons,just nothing to cause trouble...Therefore it is fact that as long as nothing changes with the whole corrupt system they wont legalize weed and other mind expanding drugs....Really sad :/

Truth - 2010-01-28 10:42:57

People shouldn't expect anything (rational or wise) from governments. Take life in your own hands, don't wait. Governing isn't done through wisdom or careful examination, it never has been. It has always been done through brute force and the playing out of people against eachother: Divide et impera.

The fact that stupid decisions are made concerning mind-altering substances has nothing to do with that the governments in question aren't properly informed. It is and has always been about controlling people, their behaviour, their viewpoints and their mindset. Alcohol, tobacco (the Western version that is) and caffeïne are the propellants of the current dominant culture.

Peaceful resistance and civil disobedience is the greatest power people have...

SKA - 2010-01-29 02:48:50

This truth has been publicly available for many many years now. It's about time Politicians start listening to their people and their experts (in the field of public health & drugs) and stop trying to shove their ignorant, blind,and drunk ideologies down everyone's throat.

I'm affraid to break free from the conservative, ignoble agenda there's going to have to be "a bit" of violence.

Mindlessly - 2010-02-02 19:40:23

The ammount of political slander and false propaganda behind the original prohibition of cannabis use in the U.S. and then the rest of the world is shocking. The intire process is depicted in detailed in the film 'Grass' (1999).
The world is so close minded about cannabis use that it is now nearly unthinkable to question the validity of the prohibition laws.
Watch the film, very interesting...

smasher - 2010-02-03 07:05:53

governments waste so much time an tax payer money fighting this war against pot a war they have been loosing for year after year completly ignoring the cold hard facts thats it pot is very safe and like it was said earlier only responsibility should be encouraged