The Regulation of The Regulation of Drugs Drugs

Deviance and Social ControlDeviance and Social Control

OverviewOverview

The creation of laws re: drugs in North America The creation of laws re: drugs in North America (drugs as evil) Why are some drugs legal while (drugs as evil) Why are some drugs legal while other’s are illegal?other’s are illegal?

The social creation “drug addict”, “drug fiend” The social creation “drug addict”, “drug fiend” “trafficker”“trafficker”

The social construction of a drug problemThe social construction of a drug problem Drugs as a criminal problem vs drugs as a medical Drugs as a criminal problem vs drugs as a medical

issue (film: Stopping Traffik:The war against the issue (film: Stopping Traffik:The war against the war on drugs”war on drugs”

Can a critique of the dominant discourse on drugs Can a critique of the dominant discourse on drugs impact education re: awareness of drugs as a impact education re: awareness of drugs as a problem? problem?

Drug Laws & policiesDrug Laws & policies(a history)(a history)

The illegalization of drugs The illegalization of drugs Chinese immigrants (railroad)Chinese immigrants (railroad) 1908 Opium act1908 Opium act 1911 amendment (if found in Opium den)1911 amendment (if found in Opium den) 1920 added deportation of chinese offenders, 1920 added deportation of chinese offenders,

other laws strengthened, 1923 search without other laws strengthened, 1923 search without warrantwarrant

1922 Emily Murphy – The black candle (image 1922 Emily Murphy – The black candle (image next slide) “moral panic” re: evils of marijuananext slide) “moral panic” re: evils of marijuana

1923 Cannibis added to the Opium and Narcotics 1923 Cannibis added to the Opium and Narcotics ActAct

““Persons using this narcotic [marijuana] smoke the dried leaves of Persons using this narcotic [marijuana] smoke the dried leaves of the plant, which has the effect of driving them completely insane. the plant, which has the effect of driving them completely insane. The addict loses all sense of moral responsibility. Addicts to this The addict loses all sense of moral responsibility. Addicts to this drug, while under its influence, are immune to pain, and could be drug, while under its influence, are immune to pain, and could be severely injured without having any realization of their condition. severely injured without having any realization of their condition.

While in this condition they become raving maniacs, and are liable to While in this condition they become raving maniacs, and are liable to kill or indulge in any form of violence to other persons, using the kill or indulge in any form of violence to other persons, using the

most savage methods of cruelty without, as said before, any sense of most savage methods of cruelty without, as said before, any sense of moral responsibility.” Magistrate Emily Murphy, 1922, in moral responsibility.” Magistrate Emily Murphy, 1922, in The Black The Black

CandleCandle, ,

Harry Anslinger (1930)Harry Anslinger (1930)

"There are 100,000 total marijuana "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."entertainers, and any others."

Creation of a drug problemCreation of a drug problem

The Killer Drug, Marihuana. The Killer Drug, Marihuana. The following The following poster, which was distributed shortly after the poster, which was distributed shortly after the passage of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act (US), passage of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act (US), illustrates a variety of claims about this "killer illustrates a variety of claims about this "killer drug." Most notably, the definition of marihuana as drug." Most notably, the definition of marihuana as a "powerful narcotic" and the image of "dope a "powerful narcotic" and the image of "dope peddlers" preying on unsuspecting victims are peddlers" preying on unsuspecting victims are directly inspired by earlier claims making about directly inspired by earlier claims making about opiate drugs and cocaine. Interestingly, the opiate drugs and cocaine. Interestingly, the organization that attempted to profit from this organization that attempted to profit from this poster was put out of business by the Federal poster was put out of business by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics because their fear tactics "were Bureau of Narcotics because their fear tactics "were beginning to alarm the citizens of Chicago" (David beginning to alarm the citizens of Chicago" (David F. Musto, F. Musto, The American DiseaseThe American Disease, 1999, p. 228). , 1999, p. 228).

Tactics change from moral Tactics change from moral panics to riskpanics to risk

moral panic: emphasizes (exagerates) the dangers of drugs. Sociological analysis is focused on the observation of distortion and exaggeration in presentation of this factual problem.

Risk: emphasis moves away from describing the dangers of drugs to a focus on the scale of the problem – use of statistics, discussions of control over drugs (despite lack of evidence for harm – statistics of drug use and capture of drug traffickers are emphasized.) This presentation of statistics appears as a risk assessment but is itself a rhetorical strategy.

Forest Service Law enforcement Officers Walt Bliss, Mike Forest Service Law enforcement Officers Walt Bliss, Mike Casey. Bottom row: Ramon Polo, Chiwa, and Matt Knudson Casey. Bottom row: Ramon Polo, Chiwa, and Matt Knudson

receive national award for marijuana eradication. In 2006 the receive national award for marijuana eradication. In 2006 the team eradicated 405,399 marijuana plants from 55 illegal team eradicated 405,399 marijuana plants from 55 illegal

marijuana sites on the Mendocinomarijuana sites on the Mendocino

Profit was arrested for Possession with intent to distribute Profit was arrested for Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana, Illegal Carrying of weapon and Illegal Possession of Marijuana, Illegal Carrying of weapon and Illegal Possession of

Stolen ThingsStolen Things

A Coke PlagueA Coke Plague. A more recent and sophisticated example of the . A more recent and sophisticated example of the construction of a drug problem--a graph of a growing "Coke Plague"--construction of a drug problem--a graph of a growing "Coke Plague"--

is shown below. This visual image was constructed by a graphic is shown below. This visual image was constructed by a graphic artist, Christoph Blumrich, for an article featured on the cover of the artist, Christoph Blumrich, for an article featured on the cover of the March 17, 1986 issue of March 17, 1986 issue of NewsweekNewsweek, "Kids and Cocaine: An Epidemic , "Kids and Cocaine: An Epidemic

Strikes Middle America."Strikes Middle America." EXAGERATION is a propaganda tool in the “War on drugs” EXAGERATION is a propaganda tool in the “War on drugs”

Comparison graphs Comparison graphs (also see next image)(also see next image)

Questions:Questions:

Should drug abuse be viewed as a Should drug abuse be viewed as a medical problem rather than a criminal medical problem rather than a criminal problem? Should we focus on reducing problem? Should we focus on reducing harm? harm?

Should some (or all) illegal drugs be Should some (or all) illegal drugs be decriminalized? Explain. Why or why not?decriminalized? Explain. Why or why not?

What role does rationality play in the What role does rationality play in the creation of drug policy?creation of drug policy?