Emerging Attitudes Regarding Decriminalization: Predictors of Pro-Drug Decriminalization Attitudes in Canada

Canada and the United States have recently evaluated the decriminalization of drugs as multiple provinces and states put motions forward to consider drug decriminalization legislation. The influence of factors such as demographics, substance use, perceived substance use risk, and personality have not been widely studied in predicting attitudes toward drug decriminalization. A total of 504 participants were drawn from university ( n = 269, 53.37%) and community samples ( n = 235, 46.63%) through online social media groups and posts (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc). Analyses indicated that male gender, single or non-married relationship status, living outside of Atlantic Canada, higher problematic alcohol use scores, lower Extraversion, higher Open-mindedness, and lower perceived risk of using substances emerged as significant predictors of support for drug decriminalization. These findings have important implications as public attitudes toward a substance influence drug policy.

Justifications for Decriminalizing Drugs

Drug decriminalization calls for reduced control and penalties compared to existing laws. Proponents of drug decriminalization generally support the use of fines or other punishments to replace prison terms, and often propose systems whereby illegal drug users who are caught would be fined, but would not receive a permanent criminal record as a result. A central feature of drug decriminalization is the concept of harm reduction. Drug decriminalization is in some ways an intermediate between prohibition and legalization, and has been criticized as being "the worst of both worlds", in that drug sales would still be illegal, thus perpetuating the problems associated with leaving production and distribution of drugs to the criminal underworld, while also failing to discourage illegal drug use by removing the criminal penalties that might otherwise cause some people to choose not to use drugs. In 2001 began treating use and possession of small quantities of drugs as a public health issue. This also decreases the amount of money the government spends fighting a war on drugs and money spent keeping drug users incarcerated. A number of countries have similarly moved to reduce the penalties associated with drug use and personal possession.

Recreational Drugs Policy

This chapter examines the history of regulating recreational drugs in the USA, UK and Australia. It shows that the criminalization of recreational drugs is a relatively recent phenomenon, based not on citizen welfare but on fears that drugs affect the nation’s ability to wage war, whilst some early legislation was openly racist. It argues that the continued justification of drug criminalization is moralistic and has racist underpinnings. It suggests that whilst the social problems of recreational drug use are serious, they are no more serious than those of alcohol or gambling, and legalization has many advantages over continued criminalization. It examines the results of drug decriminalization in Portugal, and the likely practicality and social effects should recreational drugs be legalized. It argues that such legalization would also require careful regulation, much as we have for drugs manufactured for medical purposes. It compares the policy stance of governments on recreational drugs to that on the other issues discussed in this book.