ISSUES
: Drugs
Chapter 2: UK drug laws
28
sale of 68 types of drugs and has
a zero-tolerance policy. Criminal
sanctions are tougher than in the
UK and relatively few people seek
treatment.
Some products that are available
over the counter as cold and
flu remedies are banned and
possession of even small amounts
of drugs is punishable by lengthy
imprisonment.
There are low levels of drug use in
Japan but the report notes that it is
difficult to decide whether this can
be attributed to harsh penalties or a
long cultural opposition to drugs and
a society where cultural conformity
is valued.
USA
In2012, states in theUS–Washington
State and Colorado – have legalised
the recreational use of cannabis,
putting them in direct conflict with
President Obama’s national drug
policy.
18 states and the District of Columbia
allow the use of medical marijuana
on prescription.
However, in Colorado aged over 21
are to be allowed to buy and possess
up to an ounce (28g) of cannabis and
grow six plants in a private, secure
area. The first $25 million raised
through taxes on these sales will go
towards the building of schools.
In Washington, licenses to sell
marijuana are issued by the state
alcohol control boards and the
number of outlets are limited. They
can’t be within 1,000 feet of a school,
playground or library.
China
Drug possession for personal use
is technically classified as a minor
administrative offence but punishment
can be harsh – a 2,000 RMB fine
and up to 15 days of administrative
detention.
The Government can also send
people who are deemed to be drug
addicts to a compulsory detoxification
centre for up to three years, plus up to
three years’ compulsory “community
rehabilitation”.
In 2013, Guangdong province in the
south launched the ‘Thunder Anti-
drug’ special action. 97,200 drug
users were detained and 47,400
people were sent to compulsory
detoxification centres.
Smuggling or transporting or
manufacturing 1,000 grams or more
of opium and 50 grams of more of
heroin can lead to a death sentence.
According to the most recent
figures in 2008 there were 1,126,700
registered drug users, 900,000 were
using heroin or other opioids.
Ireland
While it has a similar drugs policy to
the UK, Ireland has been the leading
the way on the control of ‘legal
highs’. In 2010 the country banned
all ‘psychoactive’ substances unless
specific exemptions are made, as is
the case with tea, coffee and alcohol.
Denmark
The country has recently followed
the example of The Netherlands and
Germany and opened ‘fix rooms’ for
serious drug addicts where they can
safely consume and inject drugs in a
supervised environment.
The facilities are on offer to adults with
serious addictions who can bring their
illegal drugs and take them, legally,
under the watchful eye of a nurse. The
capital Copenhagen opened the first
with other cities following suit.
Sweden
Sweden is seen as the toughest zero-
tolerance state with regards to drugs
in Western Europe.
Both use and possession are illegal.
Even minor use can lead to a prison
sentence of six months although more
generally leads to a fine.
The United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC) reports that
Sweden has one of the lowest drug
usage rates in the Western world,
and attributes this to a drug policy
that invests heavily in prevention
and treatment as well as strict law
enforcement.
Although praised by those who back
the ‘war on drugs’ approach for its low
level of cannabis use of harder drugs
is a very high proportion of drug use.
Drug treatment is free of charge and
provided through the health care
system and the municipal social
services.
30 October 2014
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The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from
The Telegraph
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