The Possibility of Legalising the Use of Cannabis

The Act on the Production of and Trade in Illicit Drugs considers cannabis to be an illicit drug, just like other prohibited substances. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia defines a criminal offence as any act that enables the consumption of illicit drugs. Research in the field of public opinion has shown that younger generations are more tolerant towards cannabis than older ones, which is reflected in the steady increase in support for legalisation over the past 40 years. With new generations, attitudes towards cannabis are changing in favour of liberalisation and legalisation.

Problem

The Act on the Production of and Trade in Illicit Drugs considers cannabis to be an illicit drug, just like other prohibited substances. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia defines a criminal offence as any act that enables the consumption of illicit drugs. The aforementioned code also defines as criminal any incitement to drug use or the provision of psychotropic substances for use, as well as providing premises for the consumption of prohibited substances.

The aforementioned offences are punishable by imprisonment from three months to five years. Already in prehistory, their ancestors used ** psychotropic substances**. Ancient cultures described their findings in medical writings and encyclopaedias.

The word 'drug' is of Latin origin and means 'crushed dried medicinal herb'; the term is related to the Sanskrit word 'roga' (medicine). Drugs are considered to be plants or substances of natural or synthetic origin that affect the functioning of the central nervous system, ** brain function**, alter perception, mood, consciousness and behaviour. Cannabis is an annual plant characterised by strong stem fibres and fan-shaped leaves.

Cannabis leaves are serrated and lanceolate. Cannabis is considered to be a psychoactive plant that has been known to their ancestors for many years, and it is also said to have calming and pain-relieving properties, and can also stimulate, but in itself ** does not lead to aggression**. In the human body, it is connected to the endocannabinoid system, whose function is to regulate various processes and states in the body.

Drug policy should primarily be the responsibility of national governments. Each country has its own views on the legalisation of cannabis; some are inclined towards legalisation, whilst others oppose it and advocate prohibition. Countries seek to influence the availability and trafficking of drugs through constant national and international controls.

Results

Research in the field of public opinion has shown that younger generations are more tolerant towards cannabis than older ones, which is reflected in the steady increase in support for legalisation over the past 40 years. With new generations, attitudes towards cannabis are changing in favour of liberalisation and legalisation. The first proposals for the legalisation of cannabis have also begun in Slovenia.

In 2015, the Social Democrats party prepared an amendment to the legislation that would regulate the field of cannabis and its sale. The new legislative solutions include the following objectives: helping people who are ill, cannabis as an alternative medicine for patients, protecting persons who are minors, reducing crime in the field of criminal offences related to cannabis, making available ** new jobs**, reducing the number of backlogs in courts, reducing the workload for the police through relief, and increasing the inflow of funds into the state budget.

However, there are also reasons not to legalise cannabis in Slovenia. The reasons for this are as follows: increased use and easier accessibility of cannabis to young people, which could consequently lead to ** unwanted effects and drug abuse**, the legalisation of cannabis would have a detrimental effect on preventive work and the economic interests of a narrow circle of people. Cannabis is prohibited in most countries around the world.

The first country in the world to legalise cannabis was Uruguay in 2013. Cannabis can be used for medicinal purposes ** in 14 countries across Europe** and in some other countries around the world. With the adoption of the Cannabis Legalisation Act, ** Canada** became the second country in the world to allow the use of cannabis ** for recreational purposes** in 2018.

A very well-known and proven model of decriminalisation of recreational use of all types of cannabis comes from the Netherlands. The legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis in the Netherlands has direct ** economic benefits**. The consequences of this are lower police expenditure on repression, the state has substantial tax revenues from cannabis, and people have new jobs.