Islamabad Law Review

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Islamabad Law Review ISSN 1992-5018 ISLAMABAD LAW REVIEW Quarterly Research Journal of Faculty of Shariah& Law, International Islamic University, Islamabad Volume 4, Number 1&2, Spring/Summer 2020 Islam. L. Rev. [Vol. 4: 1 & 2, Spring/Summer, 2020] 105 Pakistani laws on the use of narcotics and drug addiction: Need for Reforms Salah Uddin Sami Ur Rahman Abstract The use of narcotic substances and drug addiction are growing at alarming levels in Pakistan. The harsh anti-narcotics laws, which are against the spirit of the Sharia, have failed to contain this mushrooming growth and have instead added to the suffering of drug addicts. Based on the qualitative research carried out in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), this paper provides for the ineffectiveness of these laws and highlights the challenges in their implementation. The government’s lack of interest to address this issue has also been observed through the absence of medical treatment and rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts. It is suggested that the existing laws should be reformed in favour of addicts and harm reduction programmes should be introduced in the wider interest of the society. Keywords: Pakistan, use of drugs, addiction, KPK, Islamic law 1. Drug Use and Addiction in Pakistan The use of controlled drugs and other narcotic substances and drug addiction are constantly growing problems in Pakistan.1 Despite harsh anti-narcotics laws, the country has witnessed an enormous growth in the number of drug addicts in the last three decades, and today Pakistan stands as one of the most drug- affected countries in the world.2 In the last two decades, injection of cheap drug concoctions and the use of various chemicals with Salah Uddin is Doctorate candidate at Portsmouth University, UK. ۔He could be reached at [email protected] Sami Ur Rahman is an Assistant Professor at the Shari‟ah Academy, International Islamic University Islamabad. He could be reached at [email protected]. 1 Tariq Khosa, „Pakistan‟s Drug Menace‟ Dawn, (Karachi, 17 December 2012). 2 Ghazal Pasha, „Rising trend of substance abuse in Pakistan: a study of sociodemographic profiles of patients admitted to rehabilitation centres‟ (2019) 167 Public Health 34 <doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.10.020> accessed 26 June 2019. 106 Pak. Laws on Narcotics: Need for Reforms liquor, , has become common which on various occasions led to collective deaths. 3 In one reported incident in March 2016, more than 50 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Sindh.4 The use of Methamphetamine „orice‟ has become very popular in the last few years, which results in risky, violent and hostile behaviour among the users.5 The last decade has witnessed an increasing trend in the spread of hepatitis B, C and HIV/AIDS amongst addicts all over the country due to used syringes and needles.6 Such an egregious situation of the problem demands a holitistc intervention on part of the government and thus needs to studied critically. 2. Root cause of the drug use in Pakistan It is generally believed that opium and marijuana were traditionally used as narcotics in Afghanistan7 and by extension in the tribal areas of Pakistan, but drug addiction was never a problem in Pakistan until early 1980s.8 The mass-scale 3 See Hassan Awan, Literature Review of Drug related laws and policies in Pakistan: A comprehensive review of the drug laws, policies and other studies related to drug abuse, the implementation of laws and on ground situation in Pakistan (Society for Sustainable Development 2009). <www.ssd.com.pk/reports/Literature%20Review.pdf> 7 accessed 20 October 2015. 4 Muhammad Hussain Khan and Hanif Samoon, „At least 35 die after consuming spurious liquor in Tando Mohammad Khan‟ Dawn, (Karachi, 22 March 2016). 5 Interview with Arshad Ali, Advocate High Court Peshawar (Swat, 10 July 2016); Hammad Ahmed Hammad and Gahzal Hakani, „Awareness and use of methamphetamine (ICE) among the people of Karachi, Pakistan‟ World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2018) 7 (17) 34. 6 Editorial, „Pakistan: A victim of the destructive effects of the drug use‟ Voice of America (Urdu) (English translation done by the author of the current paper) (Washington DC, 13 December 2014) ; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), „World Drug Report 2015‟ < https://www.unodc.org/wdr2015/> 4 accessed 15 March 2016. 7 Ikarmul Haq, “Pak-Afghan Drug Trade in Historical Perspective” Asian Survey (1996) 36 (10), p. 945. 8 A.Z. Hilali, “Costs & Benefits of Afghan War for Pakistan”, Contemporary South Asia (2002) 11 (3), 291; Yahya Birt, „Being a real man in Islam: Drugs, criminality and the problem of masculinity‟ (Cambridge Mosque Project, 24 December 2014) <http://masud.co.uk/being-a-real- man-in-islam-drugs-criminality-and-the-problem-of-masculinity/> para 9 accessed 13 November 2015. Islam. L. Rev. [Vol. 4: 1 & 2, Spring/Summer, 2020] 107 introduction of drugs into the Pakistani society is linked with two important events. Firstly, when the Afghan refugees arrived in Pakistan in the late 1970s, some wealthy and influential refugees were allegedly involved in the local production and international trade of drugs in collaboration with some elements in the Pakistani establishment, to raise funds for their armed struggle against the former USSR troops in Afghanistan.9 Secondly, after the withdrawal of the USSR troops and the ensuing anarchy, Afghanistan emerged as a major drug producer on the world scale in the 1990s; a major chunk of the drugs originating from Afghanistan, targeting international markets through Pakistan, ends up in the local markets10 thus making access to drugs easy for everyone.11 Widespread poverty and fast-increasing unemployment push many people into psychological stress and anxiety which, coupled with the paucity of social nets, lead them to seek refuge in narcotic drugs and substance.12 Due to lack of access to proper healthcare facilities, poor people use cheap drugs such as opium for various health issues including joint pains, asthma or arthritis which after prolonged use lead to addiction. Many people, especially youth from the financially well-off families, become addicts due to peer pressure or influence or sometimes by misadventures in seeking excitement through trying drugs 9 Dessa K. Bergin-Cico, „War and drugs: The role of military conflict in the development of substance abuse’ (Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2015) 108. 10 Safiya Aftab, „Post 2014: The regional drug economy and its implications for Pakistan‟ (CIDOB Policy Research Project 2014). <www.cidob.org/en/content/download/38315/597263/file/FEBR UARY_2014_SAFIYA+AFTAB.pdf > 3-4 accessed 9 December 2015. 11 Editorial, „Drugged up in Pakistan‟ Aljazeera English (Doha, (10 October 2014); Syed Nayyar Abbas Kazmi, „Pakistan: Not a source but a victim country‟ (United Nations Asia and Far East Institute) Resource Material No. 65, available at: <https://www.unafei.or.jp/english/publications/Resource_Materia l_65.html> 130 accessed 16 July 2016. 12 Editorial, „Poverty, joblessness pushing youth to drug addiction:, The News International (Karachi, February 25, 2011); Farhat Yaqub, “Pakistan‟s drug problem” The Lancet (2013) 381 (9884) 2151; Interview with Nasir Shah, Advocate High Court Peshawar (Swat, 12 July 2016). 108 Pak. Laws on Narcotics: Need for Reforms without realising their harmful effects.13 Something that does not appear on the radar of the relevant actors and merits investigation is biopsychosocial factor which is another reason for drug use disorders and dependence.14 3. Anti-Narcotics Laws In order to gather Pakistani foot-soldiers to fight alongside Afghan Mujahideen against the former USSR troops, the then military ruler General Ziaulhaq was promoting religion at political, state and community levels.15 He also introduced a „move towards Islamisation of criminal laws‟ (collectively called Hudood Order) whereby offences under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) – both based on the Common law system, were merged with the Hudood Order which was based on the Hanafi School of Islamic jurisprudence.16 The Prohibition of (Enforcement of Hadd) Order of 1979 (President‟s Order No.4, referred to hereafter as PHO) was the first law introduced in the country that dealt with drug use, possession, and production etc. Article 4 of PHO, which deals with owning or possession of intoxicants (Non-Muslims were exempt for keeping small quantities for religious events), reads: - Whoever owns, possesses or keeps in his custody any intoxicant shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term, which may extend to two years, or with whipping not exceeding thirty stripes, and shall also be liable to fine: Provided …. further that if the intoxicant in respect of which the offence is committed is heroin, cocaine, opium or coca leaf, and the quantity exceeds ten grams in the case of heroin or cocaine or one kilogram in the case of opium or coca leaf, the offender shall 13 Karamat Ali, “Causes of Drug Addiction in Pakistan,” Pakistan Economic and Social Review (1980) 18 (3/4) 102; Interview with Pardul Khan, Advocate High Court Peshawar (Swat, 14 July 2016). 14 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) & The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, „Drug Use in Pakistan 2013‟ <https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan/Survey_Report_Final_ 2013.pdf> 6 accessed 12 August 2016. 15 Yahia Baiza, ‘Education in Afghanistan: Developments, influences and legacies since 1901’ (Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2013) p. 139. 16 The Council of Islamic
Recommended publications
  • Drug Abuse: Global Vs South Asian Trends with Special Reference to India and Pakistan 3-25 — Syed Imran Sardar
    REGIONAL STUDIES Vol.xxxvi, No.1 Winter 2015-16 INSTITUTE OF REGIONAL STUDIES ISLAMABAD EDITORIAL BOARD Brig. Bashir Ahmed, Abul Barakat Ahmed, Dr Shaheen Akhtar INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Mr. Dan Smith Prof. Michael Clarke Director, Stockholm International Director General Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Royal United Services Institute for Solna, Sweden Defence and Security Studies, (RUSI) Whitehall, London, UK Dr. Shen Dingli Dr. Robert Hathaway Executive Dean Director Asia Program Institute of International Studies Woodrow Wilson International Centre Fudan University for Scholars Washington, DC - USA Shanghai, China Dr. Zhao Gancheng Dr. Rodney W. Jones Director Center for South Asia Studies President Shanghai Institute for International Studies, Policy Architects International Shanghai, China Reston, VA, USA Dr Christopher Snedden Amb. Riaz Mohammad Khan Professor Former Foreign Secretary Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies of Pakistan Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Dr. Christophe Jaffrelot Dr. Maneesha Tikekar CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS and Reader & Head, Dept. of Politics King’s College, SIES College of Arts, Science & London. Commerce, Mumbai, India Maj. Gen. A.K.M. Abdur Rehman Prof. Rostislav Rybakov Director General Director Bangladesh Institute of International and Institute of Oriental Studies Strategic Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia Dr. Gunter Mulack Dr. David Taylor Executive Director Director Institute for the Study German Orient-Institute, of Muslim Civilisations Berlin Germany Aga Khan
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise and Decline of Cannabis Prohibition the History of Cannabis in the UN Drug Control System and Options for Reform
    TRANSNATIONAL I N S T I T U T E THE RISE AND DECLINE OF CANNABIS PROHIBITION THE HISTORY OF CANNABIS IN THE UN DruG CONTROL SYSTEM AND OPTIONS FOR REFORM The history of cannabis in the international drug control system 3 The Rise and Decline of Cannabis Prohibition The history of cannabis in the international drug control system Cannabis is the most widely illicitly used substance world- wide and is produced in virtually every country on the planet. The 2013 World Drug Report estimated that it is used by 180.6 million people around the world or 3.9 per cent of the global population aged 15 to 64.1 Compared to other controlled psychoactive substances, its potential harm, physiological or behavioural, is considered less severe and cannabis is better integrated into mainstream culture. The cannabis plant has been used for religious, medicinal, industrial and recreational purposes since early mankind.2 Hemp fibre was used to produce paper, rope and sailcloth, enabling European powers to build their colonial em pires, where they subsequently discovered that the plant was also widely used for its psychoactive and medicinal properties.3 In 1961, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the bed- rock of the United Nations drug control system, limited “the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession” of cannabis “exclusively to medical and scientific purposes”.4 During the negotiations on the Convention there was even a failed attempt to make cannabis the only fully prohibited substance on the premise that “the medical use of cannabis was practically obsolete and that such use was no longer justified”.5 Instead, it was included under the stric test controls in the Convention.
    [Show full text]
  • Drug Market Trends: Cannabis Opioids
    DRUG MARKET TRENDS: CANNABIS 3 OPIOIDS © United Nations, June 2021. All rights reserved worldwide. ISBN: 9789211483611 WORLD DRUG REPORT 2021 REPORT DRUG WORLD eISBN: 9789210058032 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.21.XI.8 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. Suggested citation: World Drug Report 2021 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.21.XI.8). No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNODC. Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of UNODC. DISCLAIMER The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC or contributory organizations, nor does it imply any endorsement. Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to: Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime PO Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria Tel: (+43) 1 26060 0 Fax: (+43) 1 26060 5827 E-mail: [email protected] 2 Website: www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2021.html PREFACE 3 Drugs cost lives. unemployment and inequalities, as the world lost 114 million jobs in 2020. In doing, so it has created conditions that leave In an age when the speed of information can often outstrip more people susceptible to drug use and to engaging in illicit Preface the speed of verification, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught crop cultivation.
    [Show full text]
  • DRUG MARKET TRENDS: CANNABIS OPIOIDS © United Nations, June 2021
    DRUG MARKET TRENDS: CANNABIS OPIOIDS © United Nations, June 2021. All rights reserved worldwide. ISBN: 9789211483611 WORLD DRUG REPORT 2021 REPORT DRUG WORLD eISBN: 9789210058032 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.21.XI.8 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. Suggested citation: World Drug Report 2021 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.21.XI.8). No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNODC. Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of UNODC. DISCLAIMER The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC or contributory organizations, nor does it imply any endorsement. Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to: Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime PO Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria Tel: (+43) 1 26060 0 Fax: (+43) 1 26060 5827 E-mail: [email protected] 2 Website: www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2021.html PREFACE 3 Drugs cost lives. unemployment and inequalities, as the world lost 114 million jobs in 2020. In doing, so it has created conditions that leave In an age when the speed of information can often outstrip more people susceptible to drug use and to engaging in illicit Preface the speed of verification, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught crop cultivation.
    [Show full text]
  • CANNABIS & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Paving the Way for the Next Decade in Cannabis and Hemp Policy
    CANNABIS & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Paving the way for the next decade in Cannabis and hemp policy FAAAT EDITIONS Cannabis & Sustainable Development. Paving the way for the next decade in Cannabis and hemp policies. Recommendations for the implementation of Cannabis policies aligned with international Human Rights standards, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2016 UNGASS outcome document. Authors: Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli, Simon Anderfuhren-Biget Ph.D, Martin Díaz Velásquez and Michael Krawitz. Contributors: Olivier Bertrand M.D, Michal Brožka, Amy Case King, Swami Chaitanya, Genine Coleman, Chris Conrad, Julie P. Fry, Hanka Gabrielová, Kristen Garringer, Farid Ghehiouèche, Chris Halmo, Daniela Kreher, Marcin Krzyżkowiak, Hannes Lenhart and Kirstin Nevedal. Graphic design: Marilyn Reina, Victor Aragon © FAAAT think & do tank, Vienna. March 2019 | 3rd edition, augmented. 1st edition: Vienna, December 2018. ISBN 979-10-97087-34-0 | EAN 9791097087340 Some rights reserved. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Under the terms of this licence, you may copy, redistribute and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided the work is appropriately cited, as indicated below. Suggested citation: Riboulet-Zemouli K, Anderfuhren-Biget S, Díaz Velásquez M and Krawitz M (2019), “Cannabis & Sustainable Development: Paving the way for the next decade in Cannabis and hemp policies.” FAAAT think & do tank, Vienna, March 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Available at: https://faaat.net/ publications/9791097087340 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors, not necessarily those of other contributors, supporters of FAAAT.
    [Show full text]
  • In Focus Cannabis Legalization
    IN FOCUS CANNABIS LEGALIZATION CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES: EVOLVING TRENDS AND 4 NEW CHALLENGES 2020 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. Suggested citation: In Focus: Cannabis legalization - World Drug Report 2020. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNODC. Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of UNODC. DISCLAIMER The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC or contributory organizations, nor does it imply any endorsement. Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to: Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime PO Box 500 1400 Vienna Austria Tel: (+43) 1 26060 0 Fax: (+43) 1 26060 5827 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.unodc.org/wdr2020 Acknowledgements The World Drug Report 2020 was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the supervi- sion of Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the Division, and Angela Me, Chief of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, and the coordination of Chloé Carpentier, Chief of the Drug Research Section.
    [Show full text]
  • A Sustainable Future for Cannabis Farmers
    A Sustainable Future for Cannabis Farmers ‘Alternative Development’ Opportunities in the Legal Cannabis Market AUTHORS: Martin Jelsma Tom Blickman Sylvia Kay Pien Metaal Nicolás Martínez Dania Putri With thanks to Hamza Hamouchene and Katie Sandwell of TNI for their helpful comments on sections of this report. This report draws on a TNI expert seminar on fair(er) trade cannabis; a series of TNI workshops with cannabis farmers in Colombia, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Morocco; and previous TNI publications on the subject as referenced. This report is dedicated to Rene Roemersma. EDITING: Deborah Eade DESIGN: Guido Jelsma COVER: Banana tree amidst cannabis, Jamaica, 2019, Martin Jelsma. PUBLICATION DETAILS: Contents of the report may be quoted or reproduced for non-commercial purposes, provided that the source of information is properly cited. TRANSNATIONAL INSTITUTE (TNI) De Wittenstraat 25, 1052AK Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel: +31206626608 Email [email protected] www.tni.org/drugs www.undrugcontrol.info Amsterdam, April 2021 2 | A sustainable future for cannabis farmers transnationalinstitute Contents Key Points & Recommendations 4 1 Cannabis Traditions & Subsistence 8 1.1 Brief history of traditional cannabis cultures 8 1.2 Impact of cannabis prohibition 13 1.3 Extent of the cannabis subsistence economy today 14 2 Cannabis & Alternative Development 16 2.1 From Technical Assistance to Alternative Development 16 2.2 Cannabis and Alternative Development: the shared responsibility 19 2.3 Cannabis and Alternative Development: the practice 23 3 Asia 24 3.1 The Doi Tung Alternative Development model in Thailand and Aceh, Indonesia 24 3.2 Thailand’s medical cannabis framework 28 3.3 Other recent developments in Asia 29 4 Latin America & the Caribbean 30 4.1 The Caribbean: small farmers in Jamaica and St.
    [Show full text]
  • Medicinal Cannabis Policies and Practices Around the World by Sofía Aguilar1, Víctor Gutiérrez,2 Lisa Sánchez3 and Marie Nougier4
    Briefing paper April 2018 Medicinal cannabis policies and practices around the world By Sofía Aguilar1, Víctor Gutiérrez,2 Lisa Sánchez3 and Marie Nougier4 Abstract digm in the area of drugs, the adoption of alternative policies at local level – sometimes at the expense of The global debate about the regulation of cannabis the international legal framework – and the growing has intensified in recent years, and jurisdictions have perception that the costs of the ‘war on drugs’ far out- increasingly amended their legislation to allow for weigh its benefits. the medicinal or therapeutic use of the plant. Various countries in the Americas have enacted policies that Unfortunately, and despite the growing number of enable patients to access certain types of preparations regulatory experiences, the world has not yet reached to alleviate symptoms, reduce pain or improve their a consensus on how to proceed, and continues to quality of life. However, although all these experienc- resist any possibility of activating the legal and insti- es can be considered as progress, not all regulatory tutional mechanisms within the scope of the United regimes are equal, and not all reforms will have the Nations to adapt the current treaty framework to this same impact. This paper aims to enhance our under- new situation. The United Nations General Assembly standing of the state of reforms and their potential, Special Session (UNGASS) on the ‘world drug prob- as well as offer some general recommendations in an lem’ in 2016 was the clearest example of the reluc- 5 effort to improve public policies where legislation has tance to openly discuss cannabis and its regulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Drug Abuse: Global Vs South Asian Trends with Special Reference to India and Pakistan
    Vol xxxv No. 1 January 2016 DRUG ABUSE: GLOBAL VS SOUTH ASIAN TRENDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN SYED IMRAN SARDAR INSTITUTE OF REGIONAL STUDIES ISLAMABAD 2 CONTENTS Introduction 1 Organic drug abuse 3 Prevalent trends—global view 4 Opium 4 Coca bush 11 Cannabis 13 Prevalent trends in South Asia 16 Opium 17 Cannabis 22 Emerging trends: Implications 23 Annexure 29 Notes and References 30 DRUG ABUSE: GLOBAL VS SOUTH ASIAN TRENDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN ∗ SYED IMRAN SARDAR Introduction Drug abuse poses serious risks to human health. It is a leading cause of infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C with the sharing of contaminated syringes, and eventually leads to short-term or permanent disability. In case of overdose, premature deaths could also occur. A recent study ‘Global Burden of Disease’ reveals that drug dependence alone is responsible for almost 3.6 million years of life lost due to premature death and 16.4 million years of life lived with disability, both equal to 20 million years of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in 2010. 1 Moreover, in 2012 around 183,000 drug-related deaths were reported, and between 162 million and 324 million people of age 15-64 used illicit drugs mainly cannabis, opioid, cocaine, and amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS). 2 Despite wide acknowledgment of substance abuse’s risks to human health and social life, drug abuse is on the rise. Strict laws and massive seizure of illicit ∗ Syed Imran Sardar is Research Analyst at the Institute of Regional Studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Multinational Overview of Cannabis Production Regimes
    CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and EDUCATION AND THE ARTS decisionmaking through research and analysis. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE This electronic document was made available from www.rand.org as a public INFRASTRUCTURE AND service of the RAND Corporation. TRANSPORTATION INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS NATIONAL SECURITY Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 16 POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Support RAND TERRORISM AND Browse Reports & Bookstore HOMELAND SECURITY Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore RAND Europe View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND Web site is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. This report is part of the RAND Corporation research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. EUROPE Multinational overview of cannabis production regimes Beau Kilmer, Kristy Kruithof, Mafalda Pardal, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Jennifer Rubin EUROPE Multinational overview of cannabis production regimes Beau Kilmer, Kristy Kruithof, Mafalda Pardal, Jonathan P.
    [Show full text]
  • WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Critical Review
    WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Critical Review …………….. Cannabis and cannabis resin This report contains the views of an international group of experts, and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization © World Health Organization 2018 All rights reserved. This is an advance copy distributed to the participants of the 41st Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, before it has been formally published by the World Health Organization. The document may not be reviewed, abstracted, quoted, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated or adapted, in part or in whole, in any form or by any means without the permission of the World Health Organization. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. The World Health Organization does not warrant that the information contained in this publication is complete and correct and shall not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of its use.
    [Show full text]
  • EMCDDA Insights: Cannabis Production and Markets in Europe
    ISSN 1606-1683 ISSN TD -XD -12- 012- EN - C productionCannabis and markets Europe in About the EMCDDA The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is one of the European Union’s decentralised agencies. Established in 1993 and based in Lisbon, it is the central source of comprehensive information on drugs and drug addiction in Europe. The EMCDDA collects, analyses and disseminates factual, objective, reliable and comparable information on drugs and drug addiction. In doing so, it provides its audiences with an evidence-based picture of the drug phenomenon at European level. The EMCDDA’s Insights are volumes conveying the findings of study and research on topical issues in the drugs field. EMCDDA INSIGHTS EMCDDA Price (excluding VAT) in Luxembourg: EUR 15 INSIGHTS Cannabis production and markets in Europe 12 12 How to obtain EU publications Free publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); • at the European Union’s representations or delegations. You can obtain their contact details on the Internet (http://ec.europa.eu) or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758. Priced publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). Priced subscriptions (e.g. annual series of the Official Journal of the European Union and reports of cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union): • via one of the sales agents of the Publications Office of the European Union (http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm). EMCDDA INSIGHTS Cannabis production and markets in Europe 12 Legal notice This publication of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is protected by copyright.
    [Show full text]