Classification for Legal Control (From Controlling Drugs: International Handbook for Psychoactive Drug Classification, P 284- 304, 1974, Richard H. Blum, Daniel Bovet, James Moore and Associates, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 157348
• Author(s): J Kaplan
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Jossey-Bass Publishers
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This chapter discusses the classification of drugs for the purposes of legal control.

Abstract

The first section discusses how Western society in general treats, controls, and regulates some of the most common drugs, including caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, cyclamates, medical drugs, amphetamines and barbiturates, and marijuana and heroin. Alternative models for the treatment of drugs include the "flower child" model in which the only drug offense would be the sale of certain substances; a rationing system; and a system which allows the growing of cannabis, but not possession of the dried leaves or resin. The utilitarian standard used here asks what legal method of drug control maximizes a particular function over the society in question. This function considers benefits and harmfulness attributable to the drug, and the social costs of the control system itself. The chapter discusses some of the variables involved in determining control models, and notes that various drug control policies involve extranational benefits or detriments not included in the original function.