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Review
. 2001 Feb:178:123-8.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.178.2.123.

Evaluating alternative cannabis regimes

R MacCoun  1 , P Reuter
Affiliations
Review

Evaluating alternative cannabis regimes

R MacCoun et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Cannabis policy continues to be controversial in North America, Europe and Australia.

Aims: To inform this debate, we examine alternative legal regimes for controlling cannabis availability and use.

Method: We review evidence on the effects of cannabis depenalisation in the USA, Australia and The Netherlands. We update and extend our previous (MacCoun & Reuter, 1997) empirical comparison of cannabis prevalence statistics in the USA, The Netherlands and other European nations.

Results: The available evidence indicates that depenalisation of the possession of small quantities of cannabis does not increase cannabis prevalence. The Dutch experience suggests that commercial promotion and sales may significantly increase cannabis prevalence.

Conclusions: Alternatives to an aggressively enforced cannabis prohibition are feasible and merit serious consideration. A model of depenalised possession and personal cultivation has many of the advantages of outright legalisation with few of its risks.

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Comment in

  • Cannabis regimes.
    de Zwart W, van Laar M. de Zwart W, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Jun;178:574-5. doi: 10.1192/bjp.178.6.574. Br J Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11388979 No abstract available.
  • Comparative cannabis use data.
    Abraham MD, Cohen PD, Beukenhorst DJ. Abraham MD, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Aug;179:175-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.2.175-b. Br J Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11483483 No abstract available.
  • Pragmatic approach to the dangers of cannabis use.
    MacQueen AR. MacQueen AR. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Sep;179:270-1. doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.3.270-b. Br J Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11532812 No abstract available.
  • Cannabis regimes--a response.
    MacCoun R, Reuter P. MacCoun R, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Oct;179:369-70. doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.4.369-a. Br J Psychiatry. 2001. PMID: 11581124 No abstract available.

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