| Abstract [eng] |
Cannabis is the most common and most widely used drug in the world. Disposal of cannabis, like any other drug, is governed by international agreements and local laws. Despite the high prevalence and use of cannabis in the world, the issue of drug criminalization and decriminalization is actively raised both in the international arena and in Lithuania. Proponents of criminalization argue that harsh penalties for drugs help to reduce their use by discouraging other members of society from engaging in unwanted behavior, while proponents of decriminalization do not see the benefits of punitive measures to reduce drug use, and call for drug policies to focus on public health and harm reduction. The main objective of this study is to assess which penal policy model (criminalization or decriminalization) is most appropriate for controlling cannabis use in Lithuania. To achieve this goal, a qualitative study was conducted, during which 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from different fields contributing to the development of drug policy in Lithuania. The study found that in the context of drug policy, it is difficult for experts to talk only about legal regulation of cannabis because during the research there were wide discussions in the Seimas and other debates about the proposal of the Freedom Party which was delivered in December 2020. The aim of this proposal is to abolish criminal liability for the possession of small quantities of all narcotic or psychotropic substances without the aim of distributing them. In general, there is a prevailing mood among experts in favor of drug decriminalization. Experts point out that the decision taken in 2017 to criminalize the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal needs did not achieve its goals of reducing the spread of drugs, therefore Lithuanian drug policy should be more focused on the protection of drug users' health. Keywords: cannabis, penal policy, criminalization, decriminalization. |
