ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors focus on legalization in the full sense of the term – where a substance is legally produced and supplied, with whatever restrictions, for unrestricted use by the consumer. A public health approach to legalization of substances that are attractive enough to carry risks of overuse and of other harms will inevitably be some variation on policies of “permit but discourage”, as a relevant book is titled. The Dutch system of de-facto legalization of retail sales of cannabis in “coffee shops” was set up after passage of a national drug law reform in 1976. The systems adopted in Colorado, Washington and other legalizing US states have reflected a number of considerations. The moves toward legalization in North America have stimulated a substantial literature on public health considerations in the design and detailed provisions of regulatory systems for a legalized market. With legalization, the meaning of harm reduction expands to include the whole range of users.
