NCJ Number
50008
Journal
IMESCO/BOLETIM OFICAL, SAO PAULO, BRASIL Volume: 2 Issue: 6 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 12-20
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
SPAIN'S NATIONAL DRUG LAWS ARE DISCUSSED IN THEIR ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR LEGISLATION.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL DRUG PROBLEM WILL NOT BE SOLVED IF THE PATH PROPOSED BY TRADITIONALISTS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND LAW IS FOLLOWED, EITHER ON THE NATIONAL OR THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. THE PROBLEM OF DRUGS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN HISTORY AND TODAY, IN THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ARENAS, AND THEIR EFFECT ON HEALTH, YOUTH, AND IN SUBCULTURES, DEMAND A RADICALLY NEW APPROACH, SUCH AS URGING UNIVERSITIES TO ESTABLISH CHAIRS IN CRIMINOLOGY. FURTHERMORE, PRINCIPAL DRUG PROBLEMS MIGHT BE SOLVED IF THE TWO PRONGED ORIENTATION OF CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY WERE IMPLEMENTED: FIRST, TRADITIONAL PRACTICE AND DOCTRINE SHOULD BE DISCARDED ALONG WITH THE A-HISTORICAL, INDIVIDUALIST, AND A-POLITICAL METHODS; AND SECOND, A STUDY OF DRUGS IN THEIR POLITICAL, SOCIAL ECONOMIC, AND OTHER DIMENSIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DEVELOP A COMPLETELY NEW APPROACH. SUCH AN APPROACH SHOULD INCLUDE (1) AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MAN'S INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, RATHER THAN HIS STIGMATIZATION AS A RESULT OF DRUG USE; (2) ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION THAT DECRIMINALIZES SEVERAL STEROTYPED DRUG CRIMINALS (E.G., MARIJUANA USERS); (3) A REVIEW OF THE REHABILITATION LAW IN SPAIN AS IT PERTAINS TO DRUG USE; (4) RESPECT FOR SPECIAL DRUG LEGISLATION (E.G., NE BIS IN IDEM); (5) PARTIALITY AND RESTRAINT WHEN DEALING WITH DRUG CRIMINALS; (6) INFORMATION AND EDUCATION BY THE MASS MEDIA OF THE CITIZENRY AS TO THE NATURE OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS; AND (7) EXAMINATION OF THE TREATMENT OF POOR AND WEALTH CITIZENS AS IT EXISTS NOW. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN SPANISH. (INL)