Global Trends in Decriminalisation: A Quiet Revolution Jamie Bridge International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) on behalf of Release Thursday 14th March 2013

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

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