A tale of two jurisdictions. Can Australia and Canada learn from each other’s experience with cannabis control?
Author(s)
Kisely, S
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2005
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: To compare public health and legal policies to reduce the harm associated with cannabis use in Canada and Australia, given similarities between both countries. Method: A review of the epidemiological and health policy literature. Results: Although both countries have adopted harm minimization, a continued heavy reliance on legislative and punitive approaches in both Canada and Australia has failed to arrest the increase in cannabis use, especially among young people. A Senate inquiry in Canada has recommended the liberalization of laws on the possession and use of cannabis, while tightening legislation against ...
View more >Objective: To compare public health and legal policies to reduce the harm associated with cannabis use in Canada and Australia, given similarities between both countries. Method: A review of the epidemiological and health policy literature. Results: Although both countries have adopted harm minimization, a continued heavy reliance on legislative and punitive approaches in both Canada and Australia has failed to arrest the increase in cannabis use, especially among young people. A Senate inquiry in Canada has recommended the liberalization of laws on the possession and use of cannabis, while tightening legislation against operating vehicles or machinery while intoxicated. Conclusions: Existing policies are not evidence-based and lead to adverse outcomes such as criminalization of otherwise law-abiding citizens and diversion of resources from more effective policing or health service initiatives.
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View more >Objective: To compare public health and legal policies to reduce the harm associated with cannabis use in Canada and Australia, given similarities between both countries. Method: A review of the epidemiological and health policy literature. Results: Although both countries have adopted harm minimization, a continued heavy reliance on legislative and punitive approaches in both Canada and Australia has failed to arrest the increase in cannabis use, especially among young people. A Senate inquiry in Canada has recommended the liberalization of laws on the possession and use of cannabis, while tightening legislation against operating vehicles or machinery while intoxicated. Conclusions: Existing policies are not evidence-based and lead to adverse outcomes such as criminalization of otherwise law-abiding citizens and diversion of resources from more effective policing or health service initiatives.
View less >
Journal Title
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume
39
Issue
2
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified
Psychology
Cognition