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Mixed messages from Europe on Drug Policy Reform: the cases of Sweden and the Netherlands

Chatwin, Caroline (2016) Mixed messages from Europe on Drug Policy Reform: the cases of Sweden and the Netherlands. Journal of Drug Policy Analysis, . ISSN 1941-2851. E-ISSN 1941-2851. (doi:10.1515/jdpa-2015-0009) (KAR id:54982)

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Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jdpa-2015-0009

Abstract

This article examines the variety of drug policy in operation within Europe by focusing on Sweden (relatively restrictive) and the Netherlands (relatively liberal) as case studies. It analyses European data to produce an in-depth overview of the nature of the illegal drugs situation in both countries, focusing on both successes and areas that could be improved. Finally it appraises the appetite for drug policy reform in terms of (i) cannabis regulation and (ii) treaty reform in each country. The main conclusions suggest that there are no common indicators of success by which drug policies in general can be judged, and there is little agreement within Europe about whether or not we are in need of drug policy reform. It suggests that a successful global drug policy should celebrate diversity and should also seek to provide an international framework within which different global drug strategies can be evaluated.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1515/jdpa-2015-0009
Uncontrolled keywords: drug policy; Europe; drug policy reform; cannabis regulation; UN conventions
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Lisa Towers
Date Deposited: 14 Apr 2016 13:08 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 12:20 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54982 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)
Chatwin, Caroline: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7124-2264
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