Социологическая наука и социальная практика (Dec 2016)
Drug policy dilemma: ban or tolerance
Abstract
Due to the significant change in drug situation in Russia and in the world, certain means of social control over distribution of drug consumption are analyzed. The existing drug policy provides for restrictions in the sphere of drug trafficking both at the macro-social and individual behavioral level. The main contradiction of the drug policy is that distribution of drugs and expansion of the drug market and geography contribute to the preservation of the prohibitive character of the international drug legislation, while at the national level the processes of mitigation of repressive measures are observed with regard toconsumers of psychoactive substances that affect relevant social norms. In fact, we can see the process of transformation of the social norm “society without drugs” and increased tolerance to drug consumption. Against this background, the public discussion about decriminalization (cancellation of sanctions) and legalization (cancellation of restrictions) of drug circulation is unfolding under the motto “the war against drugs is lost”. The article mentions “replacement therapy”, “clubs of marijuana fans”, and “rooms for consumption (bring your own drugs)” as attempts of fragmentary violation of the legislation in a number of countries which can be perceived by the other countries as mitigation of the abstention norm regarding the use of psychoactive substances. The described examples give an idea of two important features social control over drug distribution: changes start from the top, from individual needs through group activity and public organizations; they do not follow a strict vertical flow of decision-making, but rather horizontally through exchange of experience and cooperation, as soon as the novelty develops a mass effect.
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