Opinion: The Difference Between Cannabis Legalization and Decriminalization, and Why it Matters

Many people mistakenly think that decriminalization and legalization of cannabis are interchangeable terms; they are not.  Decriminalization removes the penalties for personal use of small amounts of cannabis, which still remains an illegal substance to manufacture or sell. Under decriminalization the state does not regulate cannabis. If caught, it is usually a civil penalty, a fine, under the jurisdiction of the police not criminal charges under jurisdiction of the courts[1].

On the other hand, legalization of cannabis is aimed at the supply[2]. Legalization lifts prohibition and abolishes laws making the substance illegal. Therfore, it also lifts the ban on possession and use of cannabis, but more importantly it allows the government to now regulate and tax the sale and manufacturing/processing of cannabis.

Both decriminalization and legalization can save taxpayers millions of dollars by not using our courts and prisons to prosecute the hundreds of thousands of cannabis users possessing small amounts.  Proponents of legalization go further and argue that governments stand to make more revenue in the form of taxes by legalizing and regulating the large and growing businesses related to the manufacturing, processing and sale of cannabis.[3]

One benefit seen with decriminalization are expressed in a white paper published in 2001 by the Cato Institute[4], Portugal’s decriminalization program was reviewed, and it was found that those with substance use disorder are more likely to come forward for treatment under decriminalization. This is an important benefit of decriminalization because those in the medical community have always argued that substance use disorder is a medical disease with public health implications and not a crime. Many states in the US that have approved medical cannabis programs have in fact decriminalized it.

Those who argue going a step further to legalization, point to the inequity of our criminal justice system with respect to cannabis arrests and minority populations.

Since minorities bear the brunt of arrests and imprisonment[5] [6] for cannabis charges, legalization can also be thought of as a matter of social restorative justice.

States and their constituents might feel that opting for decriminalization would unburden their legal justice system while not promoting or condoning the use of cannabis. They worry that legalization will somehow increase use and addiction in our youth.  However, I would argue that it is less addictive than tobacco and alcohol, which are legal and sold as well as heavily regulated in the US[7].  Additionally, I would argue that by legalizing cannabis responsibly on the federal level like Canada[8] did, would now open the doors for meaningful clinical trials which we need to truly prove its real efficacy and safety as a therapeutic agent .

[1] Cannabis Policy Status and Recent Developments. European Monitoring Centre for rugs and Drug Addiction. Retrieved from: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/topic-overviews/cannabis-policy/html_en. Accessed September 27, 2019.

[2] Cannabis Policy Status and Recent Developments. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Retrieved from: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/topic-overviews/cannabis-policy/html_en. Accessed September 27, 2019

[3] Moffat M,. Should Governments Legalize and  Tax Marijuana.  ThoughtCO. Updated December 10, 2018. https://www.thoughtco.com/should-governments-legalize-and-tax-marijuana-1147576 .Accessed September 27, 2019.

[4] Greenwald G,. Drug Decriminalization in Portugal: Lessons for creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies. Cato Institute. April 2, 2009   https://www.cato.org/publications/white-paper/drug-decriminalization-portugal-lessons-creating-fair-successful-drug-policies.  Accessed September 27, 2019.

[5] Chappell C. Cory Booker Introduces Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Nationwide, with Support from Fellow 2020 Candidates. Updated February 28, 2019

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/cory-booker-introduces-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-nationwide.html.  Accessed September 27, 2019.

[6] Siff S. Illegalization of Marijuana: A Brief History. Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective. 2014; 7(8)

[7]Lachenheimer D, Rehm J,. Comparative Risk Assessment of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis and Other Illicit Drugs Using Margin of Exposure Approach.  Nature Scientific Reports. Published January 30, 2015.  https://www.nature.com/articles/srep08126. Accessed September 27, 2019

[8] The Ontario Public Health Association Position Paper. The Public Health Implications of Legalization of Recreational Cannabis. Retrieved from: https://opha.on.ca/getmedia/6b05a6bc-bac2-4c92-af18-62b91a003b1b/The-Public-Health-Implications-of-the-Legalization-of-Recreational-Cannabis.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf. Accessed September 27, 2019

Dr. Leigh Vinocur is a board certified emergency physician, who also has a cannabis consulting practice for patients and industry. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. And in the inaugural class for the first Masters of Science in the country in Cannabis Science and Therapeutics at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.   

This blog is not written or edited by Hearst. The authors are solely responsible for the content.