Decriminalization of Narcotics: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, & Uruguay

This report provides a review of laws adopted in 16 countries with regard to legalization, decriminalization, or other forms of regulation of narcotics and other psychoactive substances. Individual country surveys included in this study demonstrate varied approaches to the problem of prosecuting drug use, possession, manufacturing, purchase, and sale. The country surveys demonstrate some diversity and common threads among these jurisdictions as to defining narcotics, distinguishing between “hard” and “soft” drugs, establishing special regulations concerning cannabis, refusing to prosecute personal use and/or possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use, giving law enforcement authorities the discretion not to prosecute minors and first-time offenders, applying alternative forms of punishment, and providing treatment opportunities.This report looks at decriminalization of narcotics in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, & Uruguay — ISBN13: 9781687076847