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Background and Aims: Many countries have recently legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis. With increasing use and access come the potential for harms. We aimed to examine the effect of cannabis legalization/decriminalization on acute poisoning. Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022323437). We searched Embase, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to March 2022. No restrictions on language, age or geography were applied. Abstracts from three main clinical toxicology conferences were hand‐searched. Included studies had to report on poisonings before and after changes in cannabis legislation, including legalization and decriminalization of medicinal and recreational cannabis. Where possible, relative risk (RR) of poisoning after legalization (versus before) was calculated and pooled. Risk of bias was assessed with ROBINS‐I. Results: Of the 1065 articles retrieved, 30 met inclusion criteria (including 10 conference abstracts). Studies used data from the United States, Canada and Thailand. Studies examined legalization of medicinal cannabis (n = 14) and decriminalization or legalization of recreational cannabis (n = 21). Common data sources included poisons centre records (n = 18) and hospital presentations/admissions (n = 15, individual studies could report multiple intervention types and multiple data sources). Most studies (n = 19) investigated paediatric poisoning. Most (n = 24) reported an increase in poisonings; however, the magnitude varied greatly. Twenty studies were included in quantitative analysis, with RRs ranging from 0.81 to 29.00. Our pooled estimate indicated an increase in poisoning after legalization [RR = 3.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.43–5.20], which was greater in studies that focused on paediatric patients (RR = 4.31, 95% CI = 2.30–8.07). Conclusions: Most studies on the effect of medicinal or recreational cannabis legalization/decriminalization on acute poisoning reported a rise in cannabis poisoning after legalization/decriminalization. Most evidence is from US legalization, despite legalization and decriminalization in many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Judges have played a leading role in the decriminalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in several countries. Since the 1990s, they have promoted the annulment or restriction of norms that punish mercy killing and assisted suicide and have contributed to the development of the ethicallegal foundations of assisted death procedures. However, in each country, the judges have attributed very different scope, nature and foundations to the right to assisted death. In this article I analyze three main differences, related to the conditions that give access to medical care, the fundamental rights that support it and its nature as a subjective right. I conclude that the right to assisted death can be, depending on the country, a privilege, an immunity or a claim, often based on different--and incompatible-- interpretations of fundamental rights and with variable applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decriminalization and legalization of illicit drugs have been hot topics ever since they hit the black market, and they have progressed a long way since. The history and subject of drugs continues to be a controversial topic, but it is evident that we still need change. This essay differentiates the concepts of decriminalization and legalization, their effects on drug policy, and their impacts on the user, and argues for the legalization of illicit drugs in Canada. It is argued that the legalization of illicit drugs allows for proper addiction treatment, safe consumption, addresses the large amounts of overdoses and opioid crisis and reduces stigmatization. Systemic and fundamental change is needed in order to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of society as a whole.

The emergence of a new ground for closing criminal proceedings in the current Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine – in connection with the decriminalization of an act committed by a person – has caused ambiguous assessments by scholars. The application of the new procedure in judicial practice necessitates a thorough scientific study of the problem in order to prevent violations of the law. The purpose of the study was to determine the practical feasibility of the adopted amendments for pre-trial investigation and court proceedings. To achieve this goal, the following methods were used: dialectical, systemic and structural, comparative legal, formal and logical, and modelling. The study describes the actions of participants in criminal proceedings at the stage of pre-trial investigation and in court during consideration of the said procedure. The author compares the new procedure with other existing special investigative procedures and emphasizes their differences. The author calls into question whether the legislator has singled out this procedure as a type of special procedure. The author comes to the conclusion that the subject under study is an exclusively improved basis for closing criminal proceedings or further continuation of their consideration, depending on the right of the defence to close or continue the proceedings in court. The author analyses the court practice of application of this criminal procedural institute. Attention is focused on the need for investigators, prosecutors, and judges to take into account the requirements of the new grounds for closing criminal proceedings and to prevent violations of the law, since during its consideration the suspect and the accused are granted an additional alternative right to agree or disagree with the closure of proceedings, which is a guarantee of human rights and freedoms. The author's conclusion that it is inappropriate for the legislator to classify the procedure for closing proceedings as a separate type of special procedure is justified by haste and lack of appropriate scientific research. The study provides the basis for improving the methodology of procedural actions of the prosecution during the closure of criminal proceedings and may be used by the legislator for further regulation of the criminal proceedings' procedure

The article focuses on the evolution of the sex worker rights movement in Thailand through the organization Empower, highlighting the shift from oppressive conditions to empowerment. Topics include the impact of terminology like "trafficking" on sex workers' rights, the emergence of the "rescue industry," and the ongoing struggle for decriminalization amidst the dominance of antitrafficking discourse.

The criminalization of drug use and possession has demonstrable harms on the health of children and youth, with disproportionate effects on Black people, Indigenous people, people from other racially oppressed communities, and people living in poverty. Drug decriminalization, by separating personal possession and use of drugs from the criminal justice system, allows for a health-based approach to drug policy. Paediatricians are well-positioned to advocate for policies within a decriminalization framework to prioritize the physical and mental health of children and youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marijuana legalization (ML) processes for medical and recreational use in the United States have been prompted by the potential for positive downstream legal effects of decriminalization, including fewer cannabis-related arrests and prosecutions, which have historically disproportionately impacted minoritized communities. However, ML evolved through primarily political processes, with minimal scientific guidance to inform policies. Commercialization has increased youth cannabis access, diversion of parental cannabis, and proliferation of high-potency products, which, along with early use, are associated with poor mental health outcomes.1 Taken together, these findings raise concerns about the impact of medical (MML) and recreational marijuana legalization (RML) on youth mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

Abstract Background In May 2022, Health Canada approved a three-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act decriminalizing possession of certain illegal substances for personal use among adults in the province of British Columbia. The exemption explicitly includes a cumulative threshold of 2.5 g of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. Threshold quantities are commonly included in decriminalization policies and justified within law enforcement systems to delineate personal use among people who use drugs versus drug dealers who are carrying for trafficking purposes. Understanding the impact of the 2.5g threshold can help define the extent to which people who use drugs will be decriminalized. Methods From June-October 2022, 45 people who use drugs from British Columbia were interviewed to gain an understanding of their perceptions on decriminalization, particularly on the proposed threshold of 2.5 g. We conduced descriptive thematic analyses to synthesize common interview responses. Results Results are displayed under two categories: 1) Implications for substance use profiles and purchasing patterns, including implications on the cumulative nature of the threshold and impacts on bulk purchasing, and 2) Implications of police enforcement, including distrust of police use of discretion, potential for net widening and jurisdictional discrepancies in enforcing the threshold. Results illustrate the need for the decriminalization policy to consider diversity in consumption patterns and frequency of use among people who use drugs, the inclination to purchase larger quantities of substances for reduced costs and to guarantee a safe and available supply, and the role police will play in delineating between possession for personal use or trafficking purposes. Conclusions The findings underscore the importance of monitoring the impact of the threshold on people who use drugs and whether it is countering the goals of the policy. Consultations with people who use drugs can help policymakers understand the challenges they may face when trying to abide by this threshold.

Legal, scientific, and social landscapes for psychedelics are changing rapidly. Differences of opinion exist among key stakeholders regarding regulatory control, models of provisioning psychedelic therapy, and medicalization, decriminalization, and/or legalization policies. We assessed the policy preferences of people using psychedelics naturalistically (N = 1221) to understand how they aligned and differed with institutional entities and existing psychedelic policies. Three quarters of participants would support decriminalization and legalization. On average, participants strongly supported individuals being legally able to grow and possess psychedelic plants and/or fungi for personal consumption. Trends included more support for natural over synthetic substances, self-production and consumption over gifting, gifting over sales, and administration of psychedelics with therapeutic support than without therapeutic support. Participants were concerned about pharmaceutical-like policy models, including patents of natural and synthetic psychedelic compounds. Participants were mostly from the State of Michigan, though geographical differences were minor. Those who identified as a psychedelic guide, educator, or therapist had small yet extensive differences from those who did not. As psychedelic liberalization continues to advance, it is critical for policymakers to consider these preferences to ensure laws provide safe and equitable access to these substances and appropriate medical support for their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal law interpretation in China faces two primary challenges in terms of value judgments. Normative interpretations often fall into circular and inadequate reasoning, while judges, the key figures in applying interpretive principles, frequently lack the necessary value judgment engagement and proficiency. Traditional criminal law interpretation is ensnared in a subjective-objective dichotomy, resulting in a misalignment with the aim of "legitimate and rational" interpretation practices in China. To rectify this, a philosophical shift is required to allow intersubjective value judgments while maintaining subjectivity-objectivity as the prerequisite. Criminal law interpretation ensures the completeness of value judgments through a combination of specialized knowledge and public discourse. This involves the creation of systematic criteria for value judgments and adherence to legal principles. The former necessitates defining the internal and external standards of value judgments, formulating rules for the resolution of conflicting standards, and underlining the practical importance of criminalization under law, or "no crime or punishment without law" (the principle that only the law can define a crime and prescribe a penalty) and "Where no law applies, it is permissible to redefine a crime as non-criminal or minor" (decriminalization). The latter involves three perspectives: logical reasoning and theoretical arguments; positive and negative judgments; and formal and substantive rationality. Moreover, it should be approached from four dimensions: normative orientation, individual case promotion, reverse exclusion, and constitutional guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philippine criminal libel law is unjustly being used to suppress and censor the media and press; libel should be decriminalized and redefined to uphold the ideals of due process and freedom of expression enumerated in the Philippine Constitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implications of the court case R v. Foster on the decriminalization of abortion in Great Britain. Topics discussed include the prison sentence of the defendant for unlawful procurement of miscarriage after obtaining abortion medications via telemedicine, the intersection between the telemedical provision of abortion and criminal law, and the author's argument about the urgency of decriminalizing abortion.

To mitigate the harms of arrest and incarceration on health and racial equity, jurisdictions are increasingly enacting reforms to decriminalize drug possession through prosecutorial discretion (de facto). Impacts on health outcomes rely on whether this policy can reduce exposure to the carceral system among people who use drugs; however, data evaluating effects on arrest are lacking. This study explores the possible impacts of Baltimore City's enactment of de facto decriminalization on arrests by race. Police and court records were used to explore the possible impacts of Baltimore City's de facto decriminalization on street arrests and (processed) arrests advancing through the courts among people who use drugs. Interrupted time series models were used to compare pre-policy (January 2018–March 2020) trends with post-policy (April 2020–December 2021) trends in arrests for possession of drugs/paraphernalia and estimate racial disparities in street arrests (Black versus other races). Analyses were performed in February–May 2022. The policy was associated with a significant and immediate decline in street and processed arrests for possession, which was not seen for other crime categories. Although declines were concentrated in the Black community, disparities in arresting persisted after the policy. De facto decriminalization may be a promising strategy to reduce exposure to the carceral system, an established risk factor for overdose and other drug-related sequelae and a driver of racial disparities in the U.S. Further research is needed to elucidate the drivers of persisting racial disparities and disentangle policy effects from pandemic-related closures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Article, I demonstrate that legal mobilization by activist litigants combined with a comparative methodological jurisprudence has been central to the "transnational legal process" of the generation and diffusion of the sodomy decriminalization norm since the 1950s. My analysis of the transnational comparative jurisprudence relies on a comprehensive legal survey of seven decades of decriminalization jurisprudence (1954-2022), primarily using successful cases. Although the scholarship on the well-known Dudgeon, Toonen, and NCGLE cases often asserts the influence that these cases had on subsequent domestic court constitutional jurisprudence, I suggest that it is the domestic privacy jurisprudence of lobbyists, legislators, claimants, and judges from the United Kingdom and United States in the 1950s through 1970s that shaped the claims-making in Dudgeon and Toonen. Conversely, I argue that the difference between the outcomes in Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas can be explained in part by developments in transnational equality and human dignity jurisprudence that resulted in a shift from the privacy legal frame to the equality and human dignity legal frame and a shift from a spatial conception of privacy to a decisional (personal choice) conception of privacy. Additionally, I move beyond scholarship centered on European and U.S. case law to include the jurisprudence from the Global South (2005 to present) that, to my knowledge, has yet to be analyzed systematically and comparatively. My Article is among the first to analyze the five landmark decriminalization cases decided in 2022, and one of the few that discusses judicialized sodomy decriminalization in transnational and comparative constitutional perspective. This inquiry is retrospective: how has legal mobilization and comparative methodological jurisprudence contributed to understandings of sexual freedom and the justifications for sexual freedom? But it is prospective as well. Sixty-six countries retain sodomy prohibitions; will the sodomy decriminalization trend continue, and if so, what role(s) will legal mobilizations play? There is also the question of backlash and retrenchment--whether homosexual conduct will be recriminalized in jurisdictions that have decriminalized. In 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Justice Clarence Thomas essentially invited reactionary and regressive forces in society to bring to the U.S. Supreme Court cases that would overturn Griswold v. Connecticut and its progeny in the LGBTQ rights space--Lawrence and Obergefell v. Hodges. I recommend activists and their allies begin the work of upholding Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell by exploring not only U.S. domestic jurisprudence but also transnational jurisprudence--in international human rights law and comparative constitutional law--to support the continued legalization of adult, consensual, same-sex sexual conduct and same-sex marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, some states have considered reforms to address the consequences of "get tough" justice. The passage of recreational marijuana laws—albeit incorporated across a minority of jurisdictions—is just one popular example. While recent scholarship indicates support for such measures among the public, there is a need for exploration of public views in light of the social unrest of 2020. Additionally, there is a need to understand public views across jurisdictions that are diverse. Accordingly, Virginia stands out as an ideal case study as it is the first state in the South to incorporate or consider a variety of progressive justice reforms. Drawing on a statewide poll conducted in 2021 (N = 1,017), this study explores the extent to which Virginians support recreational marijuana legislation, the repeal of mandatory minimums, and a moratorium on the death penalty. Findings indicate that approval varies by measure and that there are divides in public views, specifically, across socio-demographic dimensions (e.g., political ideology), and also across views about the state of society and willingness to fund the justice system. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In light of North America's persisting drug toxicity crisis, alternative drug policy approaches such as decriminalization, legalization, regulation, and safer supply have increasingly come to the forefront of drug policy discourse. The views of people who use drugs toward drug policy and drug law reform in the Canadian context are essential, yet largely missing from the conversation. The aim of this study was to capture the opinions, ideas, and attitudes of people who use drugs toward Canadian drug laws and potential future alternatives. Methods: This paper was developed as part of the Canadian Drug Laws Project, a cross-jurisdictional qualitative study conducted in British Columbia, Canada between July and September 2020. The qualitative data are from 24 semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of people who use illegal drugs. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically by the research team. Results: Two main themes and corresponding sub-themes are presented: (1) The experience of stigma as a consequence of criminalization; (2) The perceived benefits of drug law reform. Participants spoke in-depth about their experiences living within a criminalized drug policy context and offered suggestions for new pathways forward. Their perspectives illuminate how Canada's drug laws may shape public attitudes toward people who use drugs and the consequent manifestations of structural, social, and self-stigma experienced by people who use drugs. Conclusion: Participants openly and profoundly believed that current drug laws produced and propagated the public attitudes and structural inequities experienced by people who use drugs in Canada. This matters, not only because our findings highlight the fact that people who use drugs experience stigma in tangible and clearly impactful ways, but it also suggests that the criminlilization of drugs shapes the experience of structural, social, and self stigma. Finally, participants believed that efforts to destigmatize people who use drugs would be ineffectual without the enactment of more robust forms of drug law reform such as the decriminalization of illegal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into recent legislation in Jordan regarding the decriminalization of narcotics and traces the evolution of related legislation in the country. It explores the definition and underlying philosophy of decriminalization while examining arguments from both proponents and opponents of drug decriminalization from a jurisprudential perspective. Additionally, the research sheds light on practices that have emerged in response to the decriminalization of narcotics in other jurisdictions. The study thoroughly examines the advantages and disadvantages of decriminalizing narcotics, analyzing its potential impact on drug consumption. Finally, the researcher proposes the implementation of a gradual and partial systematic plan within Jordanian legislation to address the growing trend of drug decriminalization. The paper also provides insights into the stances of the United States and other countries on this issue and how their legislations have addressed it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuwaiti policymaker has never overlooked the protection of market competition. Anticompetitive practices have always been a concern in Kuwait; from the Kuwaiti Constitution 1962, which allows a legal monopoly for a certain time, and the Commercial Law Act 68/1980, to the Competition Protection Acts (CPA) of 2007 and 2020. However, the legislative responses to anticompetitive behaviours in Kuwait have varied, with criminal prohibition being historically dominant. Recently, with the introduction of the CPA 2020, Kuwait has decriminalized cartel activity. Although it may have been expected that the criminal nature of cartel activity should have been maintained, the major shift in Kuwait was contrary to the global trend towards criminalization. Cartel activity is now being dealt with within a regulatory framework, with only administrative sanctions. This paper suggests that the decriminalization in Kuwait weakens the argument that the global trend towards criminalizing cartel activity has always been driven by a top-down process. This paper has three aims: the first is to explore this inadvertently 'neglected' research area in Kuwait; the second is to discuss why cartel activity has been decriminalized, with a focus on the problem of 'moral ambiguity' as an explanation; and the third is to argue for the re-criminalization of cartel activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results: Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.

The article discusses the decriminalization of suicide in Pakistan and its implications for mental health and suicide prevention. It highlights that suicide is a global public health crisis, with a significant number of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The article argues that criminalizing suicide does not effectively prevent it and may discourage individuals from seeking help. Instead, the focus should be on implementing comprehensive suicide prevention strategies, such as developing suicide registries, creating national prevention strategies, providing training for gatekeepers, improving depression identification and treatment, restricting access to means of suicide, raising awareness, and implementing school-based training and psychosocial support. The article emphasizes the need for a compassionate and progressive approach to mental health and suicide prevention. [Extracted from the article]

Thailand has pioneered legalizing cannabis for medical purposes in Asia. This study focuses on drug tourism and the supply of cannabis in Phuket. Geospatial analysis reveals a notably positive association between cannabis stores and hotels, thus providing evidence of misuse of cannabis since its decriminalization. Despite advisory warnings discouraging tourists from leisure cannabis consumption, cannabis outlets could increase significantly in areas centered around hotels. The result reveals the urgency of nuanced destination management. Without regulation, suppliers are poised to primarily cater to the tourist, thus potentially distorting the purpose of decriminalization and neglecting the negative externalities imposed on the destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On April 11, 2019, the Constitutional Court ruled that Article 269 (1) of the crime of self-abortion and Article 270 (1) of the crime of abortion in the conduct of business violate the pregnant woman's right to self-determination. Since then, the National Assembly has been obligated to legislate for improvement until December 31, 2020, but the government-proposed amendment was submitted to the National Assembly on November 25, 2020, and Articles 269 (1) and 270 (1) of the Criminal Code have ceased to be effective from January 1, 2021. The Constitutional Court ruled that the degree of protection can be changed from when the fetus can survive independently of the mother on condition that fundamental rights of fetus, and to ban a whole abortion during the decision period (from implantation to 22 weeks before the fetus can leave the mother and survive independently) goes against the proportionality. The main argument of the fundamental rights of the fetus is the continuity argument, which has the problem that early embryos, eventually sperm and eggs, can be interpreted as the subject of the right to life. In addition, it has already been confirmed through the Constitutional Court that it is not possible to protect the life of the fetus only by recognizing the right to life of the fetus, and that protection is possible if the necessity of protecting the life of the fetus is fully recognized. When legal protection measures are taken according to the need to protect the fetus' life without recognizing the right to life of the fetus, administrative sanctions for violations of counseling procedures within 22 weeks of pregnancy, and criminal sanctions should be introduced after 22 weeks of pregnancy, including social and economic reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, medicinal and aromatic plants have been used extensively to cure a variety of ailments. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Cannabis sativa, specifically focusing on its legislative status, decriminalization, phytochemistry, antimicrobial activity, and safety. The study begins by briefly outlining the plant's history, including its cultivation, harvesting, and storage methods. The review analyzes extensively the antimicrobial properties of Cannabis sativa and its derivatives, specifically examining their reported antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic capabilities, which have been documented in databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science. The paper also discusses trends in studies about the plant object of the study, the different bioactive compounds that were identified in the plant (phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, cannabinoids, and terpenes), and safe consumption in several cannabis-based products including candies, desserts, wine and as food flavoring. Furthermore, this study has reported information about the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis use across the globe with a specific focus on Morocco because it has the largest cultivated area of C. sativa plant. However, some substances with potential antimicrobial properties were not investigated in this review due to the lack of data on their activity. The authors hope that their efforts will inspire future studies on the therapeutic uses of Cannabis sativa and its derivatives, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legal issues arising from decision no. 176/2022 of the Constitutional Court began to decrease significantly by recognizing the limited continuity of criminalization of the deed previously considered as crime of assimilated smuggling, following the standardization of caselaw in this regard. However, the discussions are far from being exhausted. An example in this regard is the continued form of the offense of assimilated smuggling, which has put the courts in difficulty in situations where the typical actions of the continued offence do not each exceed the quantitative threshold imposed by the Constitutional Court, and later by the legislator, but only by totaling the amounts of cigarettes that were the material object of the plurality of those actions. That is why, starting from a final court decision in this matter, we proposed to address the issue of the limits in which the decriminalization already admitted in caselaw can be capitalized on the continued form of the offense of assimilated smuggling, as well as the effects, especially in the case where only some of the actions of the continued form respect the mentioned quantitative threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Latin American & Caribbean Studies (Routledge) is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Academia & Derecho is the property of Universidad Libre - Seccional Cucuta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Americanía. Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos is the property of Revista Americania - Universidad Pablo de Olavide and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In May 2022, Health Canada approved a three-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act decriminalizing possession of certain illegal substances for personal use among adults in the province of British Columbia. The exemption explicitly includes a cumulative threshold of 2.5 g of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. Threshold quantities are commonly included in decriminalization policies and justified within law enforcement systems to delineate personal use among people who use drugs versus drug dealers who are carrying for trafficking purposes. Understanding the impact of the 2.5g threshold can help define the extent to which people who use drugs will be decriminalized. Methods: From June-October 2022, 45 people who use drugs from British Columbia were interviewed to gain an understanding of their perceptions on decriminalization, particularly on the proposed threshold of 2.5 g. We conduced descriptive thematic analyses to synthesize common interview responses. Results: Results are displayed under two categories: 1) Implications for substance use profiles and purchasing patterns, including implications on the cumulative nature of the threshold and impacts on bulk purchasing, and 2) Implications of police enforcement, including distrust of police use of discretion, potential for net widening and jurisdictional discrepancies in enforcing the threshold. Results illustrate the need for the decriminalization policy to consider diversity in consumption patterns and frequency of use among people who use drugs, the inclination to purchase larger quantities of substances for reduced costs and to guarantee a safe and available supply, and the role police will play in delineating between possession for personal use or trafficking purposes. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of monitoring the impact of the threshold on people who use drugs and whether it is countering the goals of the policy. Consultations with people who use drugs can help policymakers understand the challenges they may face when trying to abide by this threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the harms caused by the criminalization of cannabis in Jamaica and the outcomes of the decriminalization and legalization processes that started in 2015. It argues that the current framework does not promote social justice for actors historically engaged in the cannabis trade and suggests that it should be revised and aligned with policies geared towards reparations. It focuses on the historical entanglements between Rastafarians, law enforcement, and criminal justice once the prohibition has been weaponized against these actors. I discuss the involvement of the US in the attempt to eradicate cannabis in Jamaica, the massive investment in militarization, and the state violence embodied in the war against cannabis to then unpack the issues with the process of decriminalization and legalization. It concludes by suggesting that the Cannabis Licensing Authority and the Jamaican government must develop deeper engagement with traditional farmers to design and implement policies that will allow them to enjoy the benefits of the current legal cannabis market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Los Angeles Countys Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) has removed over 3800 people from the largest jail system in the country. Across various diversion programs, ODRs fundamental goal is to provide permanent, lifetime care for each diverted person. This article describes ODRs various diversion programs, and elucidates the types of elaborate clinical and court-related interventions that are necessary to remove persons with serious mental disorders from jail custody. As Los Angeles continues to build the necessary community-based continuum of mental health care, ODRs model proves that thoughtfully removing persons with serious mental disorders from jail is possible and necessary for the health of both patients and community.

Introduction: In 2000, the Portuguese minority socialist government decriminalized the possession and consumption of drugs. This law made Portugal unique in having a formal system that directs the person using drugs to a panel under the purview of the Ministry of Health, as opposed to the Ministry of Justice, and hence constitutes an 'original innovation'. In this article, we ask under which conditions such kinds of reforms are introduced and successfully implemented. Aims and design: After discussing the limitations of the existing literature, we present a new theoretical framework: the 'six‐stars' framework. We argue that successful policy innovation in democracies will only occur and persist when six institutional and individual 'stars' are aligned: attention, motivation to innovate, a new solution, political strategies, quality and legitimacy of the decision‐making process and guarantees for full implementation. We then apply this framework to the Portuguese Drug Policy Case through theory‐testing/process‐tracing. Relying upon a qualitative analysis of three different types of data—primary and secondary sources, official documents emitted by key actors and interviews—we identify the presence of the six aligned 'stars'. Conclusions: The proposed 'six‐stars' framework of successful drug policy innovation shows the importance of electoral mandates, communication, inclusion, transparency, deliberation and evaluation when designing innovative drug policies. It also illustrates the importance of ensuring the support of implementing agents and quickly creating visible, positive policy feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two South African professional women were early advocates of cannabis decriminalisation during the second half of the twentieth century. Frances Ames (1920-2002) was a neurologist and psychiatrist based at the Medical School of the University of Cape Town. Helen Suzman (1917-2009) represented the Progressive Party for 36 years as an opposition member of parliament. This article documents their individual -- later allied -- activities and arguments, initially in relation to National Party (apartheid) drug control measures and then into the democratic era of the African National Congress. A social history approach reveals continuities and changes in the cannabis policy rationales of successive governments and the challenges made to these policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative Structural Interventions to Promote the Health, Safety, and Rights of Sex Workers Their findings reveal an increase in online sex work during the COVID-19 pandemic for three primary reasons: an expansion in the number of websites offering sexual services, the introduction of new digital sex workers to the industry, and the continued offering of sex for pay from workers who provided services before the pandemic. The authors examine "cam work" as an economic strategy employed by sex workers before and during the pandemic and discuss the nuanced rewards and risks of virtual sex work. As contributors [23] ([23]) mentioned above, [35] ([35]) call for government/policy makers to recognize sex work as a form of labor and implement occupational health and safety regulations for sex workers across genders. [Extracted from the article]

Many states in the United States have progressed towards legalization of marijuana including decriminalization, medicinal and/or recreational use. We studied the impact of legalization on cannabis-related emergency department visits in states with varying degrees of legalization. Seventeen healthcare institutions in fifteen states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington) participated. Cannabinoid immunoassay results and cannabis-related International Classification of Diseases (ninth and tenth versions) codes were obtained for emergency department visits over a 3- to 8-year period during various stages of legalization: no state laws, decriminalized, medical approval before dispensaries, medical dispensaries available, recreational approval before dispensaries and recreational dispensaries available. Trends and monthly rates of cannabinoid immunoassay and cannabis-related International Classification of Diseases code positivity were determined during these legalization periods. For most states, there was a significant increase in both cannabinoid immunoassay and International Classification of Diseases code positivity as legalization progressed; however, positivity rates differed. The availability of dispensaries may impact positivity in states with medical and/or recreational approval. In most states with no laws, there was a significant but smaller increase in cannabinoid immunoassay positivity rates. States may experience an increase in cannabis-related emergency department visits with progression toward marijuana legalization. The differences between states, including those in which no impact was seen, are likely multifactorial and include cultural norms, attitudes of local law enforcement, differing patient populations, legalization in surrounding states, availability of dispensaries, various ordering protocols in the emergency department, and the prevalence of non-regulated cannabis products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]