AJPH
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (13)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reinarman, C.
Right arrow Articles by Kaal, H. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reinarman, C.
Right arrow Articles by Kaal, H. L.
Related Collections
Right arrow Social Science
Right arrow Health Policy
Right arrow Surveys
Right arrow Drugs
May 2004, Vol 94, No. 5 | American Journal of Public Health 836-842
© 2004 American Public Health Association

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in Amsterdam and in San Francisco

Craig Reinarman, PhD, Peter D. A. Cohen, PhD and Hendrien L. Kaal, PhD

Craig Reinarman is with the Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Calif. Peter D. A. Cohen and Hendrien L. Kaal are with the Centre for Drug Research, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Craig Reinarman, Department of Sociology, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (e-mail: craigo{at}ucsc.edu).

Objectives. We tested the premise that punishment for cannabis use deters use and thereby benefits public health.

Methods. We compared representative samples of experienced cannabis users in similar cities with opposing cannabis policies—Amsterdam, the Netherlands (decriminalization), and San Francisco, Calif (criminalization). We compared age at onset, regular and maximum use, frequency and quantity of use over time, intensity and duration of intoxication, career use patterns, and other drug use.

Results. With the exception of higher drug use in San Francisco, we found strong similarities across both cities. We found no evidence to support claims that criminalization reduces use or that decriminalization increases use.

Conclusions. Drug policies may have less impact on cannabis use than is currently thought.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 GutHome page
A Byrne, R Hallinan, A Wodak, J H Allen, G M de Moore, R Heddle, and J C Twartz
"Cannabis hyperemesis" causation questioned.
Gut, January 1, 2006; 55(1): 132 - 132.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br J CriminolHome page
B. D. Johnson, F. Bardhi, S. J. Sifaneck, and E. Dunlap
Marijuana Argot As Subculture Threads: Social Constructions by Users in New York City
Br. J. Criminol., January 1, 2006; 46(1): 46 - 77.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
P. Menghrajani, K. Klaue, F. Dubois-Arber, and P.-A. Michaud
Swiss adolescents' and adults' perceptions of cannabis use: a qualitative study
Health Educ. Res., August 1, 2005; 20(4): 476 - 484.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2004 by the American Public Health Association