The Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation outlines how social responsibility and equity can be enhanced within Canadian cannabis legislation, emphasising the inclusion of underrepresented racialised people and genders, reparations for the harms of cannabis prohibition through reinvestment of taxes, and amnesty for previous cannabis convictions.
In reviewing the effects of cannabis regulation, the government must ensure equity to Indigenous people and racialised groups who have been historically at the losing end of the 'war on drugs'.
Fischer et al. assess five years of cannabis regulation, including in relation to reductions in contact with the criminal legal system and stable prevalence among young people, as well as concerning trends regarding emergency visits and intoxicated driving.
A recent California study debunks the myth that drug use is the primary driver of homelessness, advocating for the elimination of the criminalisation and stigmatisation of drug use to facilitate access to safe and stable housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Participants of this scheme facilitated by the Drug User Liberation Front reported improved health and life outcomes, including in relation to reliance on street drugs, harmful police interactions and exposure to violence.
Joshi et al. found that decriminalisation was not associated with increased overdose rates one year after implementation, despite recent US media claims to the contrary.
Minnesota's drug policy reforms, particularly on cannabis and harm reduction represent a step in the right direction; but the continued use of punitive measures and the lack of safe supply programs are misguided.
