File talk:World-cannabis-laws.png

The sources of this map are www.norml.org, www.erowid.org, www.webehigh.com, emcdda.europa.eu, and right here on wikipedia. If sources country by country are needed should i list them here or make a new page? CL8 01:52, 4 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

List them here. Now isnt the moment but I will look for stuff myself over the next days, starting with Latin America and Europe so maybe you could start elsewhere. I think this is an excellent place to source the map info in this unquestionably controversial and international topic SqueakBox 01:58, 4 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Ok, I've gotten started. I've done North and South America and what I've got on Europe. Sorry but those are the sources I have available right now. However, a lot of my Central America is still unknown. If you can find any additions or any corrections, please let me know and I'll add them to the map. Any new or additional sources, please add them in the below section.... I'll do Africa/Asia later tonight or tomorrow. Thanks! CL8 06:18, 4 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Great work. These sources are exactly what we need. Of course it is a contentious issue, my experience of Portugal, for instance, completely contradicts this and while I dont bring my own experiences to wikipedia as unsourced my point is well made, I see someone is disputing the German bit on your talk page, SqueakBox 19:09, 4 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

I agree. These sources look good like this. They are just what is needed. If you can add any sources for any countries please do. And this map and sources should be discussed like the German guy. However I am not going to change Germany unless he can give me a source of some kind that contradicts the 2 or 3 sources I have. Just like anywhere on wikipedia, we'll make changes when there is concensus or new sources of information. :) - CL8 22:32, 4 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

OK! I think I'm done listing all of the sources I have (still can't find my sources for Bahrain and North Korea). Please add or send me any additional sources. CL8 16:52, 6 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

"Unenforced" in Sweden?

Latest comment: 18 years ago4 comments4 people in discussion

As a resident Swede who also happens to be a cannabis liberal, I find the claim about cannabis usage not being enforced to be somewhat dubious. In Sweden you can (especially if you're underage) get busted for merely doing the drug, never mind possession of small amounts. And while there is plenty of skepticism to the harsh narcotics laws in the younger generation, cannabis usage is still a very major taboo among most Swedes. You can certainly get away with smoking in public, but only because most people don't know what they're dealing with (unless you look like a gangster, a skater or if you sport dreads). And I've never heard of Swedish police officers knowingly ignoring people whom they've spotted with a joint. To the best of my knowledge, most narcotic-related arrests are cannabis-related.

I don't find anything in the sources, other than the WebBeHigh-pages which aren't completely reliable, that would confirm that the cannabis laws aren't enforced quite stringently.

Peter ^Isotalo 11:55, 11 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

One example of how Swedish authorities look on cannabis usage is the raid on a Reggae Festival in August this year, described in the Local. [1] and [2]. The public response to this was generally in favor of the police taking harsh action against anyone who uses illegal drugs. There is also a practice in Sweden of not classifying illegal drugs at all, the police website simply says that they are all illegal and that further discussion is irrelevant. Dankidding 22:36, 17 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

I saw a programme about drug enforcement in Sweden some years ago and their policy was anything but liberal or unenforcing. They are like the Japan of Europe in terms of extremely intolerant attitudeas and people being busted for cannabis in their bloodstream, SqueakBox 22:39, 17 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Alright. I'm changing Sweden. :) CL8 23:15, 19 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Morocco

Latest comment: 18 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

On Morocco we can read

Morocco ranks among the world’s largest producers and exporters of cannabis, and its cultivation and sale provide the economic base for much of the population of northern Morocco. The cannabis is typically processed into hashish.

So how is it really? Because the map lights Morocco in red, and the links above say that it is illegal.

No contradiction I can see, its just like in many poor countries, enforcemtent is sporadic due to lack of resources, SqueakBox 18:03, 18 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

NO, in morroco its mainly due to corruption.

so maybe let's mark it as "illegal but often unenforced"?

Map key colours

Latest comment: 18 years ago7 comments3 people in discussion

Excellent map, but the red colours in the key look very similar, and could perhaps do with making more different from one another, especially the reddish ones. The Real Walrus 10:37, 23 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Reddish colors? There's a pink, a red, and an orange and they look nothing alike....Which colors are you having trouble with? It's roughly a 'temperature scale' color pattern and I'd like to keep it that way. CL8 01:35, 26 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Well, I can see that there is a very slight difference between "confirmed illegal" and "illegal but often unenforced". I suggest making the latter in yellow, keeping it on the "temperature scale" theme. Hrodrik 05:21, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

A very slight difference? One is orange, the other is red. I used the built in labelled colors, not my own... I guess I could make the orange a bit lighter, but it looks good to be as is... Can you really tell me that when you look at China next to India you can barely see a difference? On my monitor they are clearly different. Thanks. CL8 05:41, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Nevermind. I have now made the red used for illegal much darker. This should help to distiguish it from both the orange and the pink. Please reload the image and see if this helps. Thanks for the advice!! :) CL8 05:54, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Thanks, that's much better. My screen is not very new and I've noticed that it's hard to distinguish some shades, compared to my laptop. Take the possible differences in systems into consideration when making other maps. Hrodrik 06:35, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

No problem. :) CL8 06:37, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Canada

Latest comment: 18 years ago3 comments2 people in discussion

Small amounts in Canada are decriminalized. (Not legalized, but still decriminalized, meaning you can't go to jail or anything. In the same way a parking ticket is decriminalized). Can someone change it? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.222.173.28 (talk) 07:25, 24 December 2006 (UTC).Reply

All the references I have say otherwise. It is almost never enforced but its LEGAL status is still illicit and jail time is legally possible even for small amounts. CL8 01:35, 26 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

I would like to see these references? 24.222.173.28 02:59, 2 March 2007 (UTC)Reply

United States - Federal government vs States

Latest comment: 18 years ago4 comments2 people in discussion

While marijuana is decriminalized in several American states (such as California, which is coloured as such on the map), Federal government officials still persecute people in those states who have marijuana. Thus, the entire American map should be coloured as "Confirmed illegal". —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 142.161.113.83 (talk) 09:03, 1 January 2007 (UTC).Reply

Decriminalized US states don't have federal prosecution for minor possession. This map is only about minor possession and it is correct as to that. thanks. CL8 18:53, 2 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

I had gotten arrested, spent the night in jail, and was charged with 5th degree marijuana possession for having a $10 bag of some low quality shake in my car that I didn't even know was there. I would have smoked it in a blunt already if I had known... damnit[Why 5th degree possession and not 7th? Because cops around here don't get into any trouble for lieing or else I wouldn't have been pulled over in the first place.] This was last month[December '06] I live in New York. It is absolutely not decriminalized.

Yes it is. Read the lengthy discussion here. CL8 15:18, 28 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Alaska: Marijuana is currently legal to possess in the home in amounts up to four ounces. This certainly qualifies Alaska as "Essentially Legal".

The ballot to legalize in Alaska failed. It is decriminalized there, however. Just like Ohio it ONLY GIVES A CITATION for people possessing under 4 ounces for personal use. This is what decriminalized means. Buying/selling/smoking publically is still illegal and there are no legal coffeeshops like there are in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Alaska is the perfect example of an area that is decriminalized. CL8 15:09, 3 February 2007 (UTC)Reply

Germany

Latest comment: 18 years ago3 comments2 people in discussion

I can't really agree with the decriminalized part for germany. Posession ist still illegal but the judge can (deppending on the state) dismiss it if it's only a very small amount of cannabis. In Bavaria for Example you get busted even for something like 1mg. In some it's a more lenient (up to 2g if i remember correctly). Switzerland is wrong too as far as i know.

I don't know about the situation today, but a few years ago, you could get away with 30g in Berlin... --Elfboi 18:02, 1 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

What you are saying directly contradicts the information I have referenced above...If you can find sources to back this up, please let me know. ;) Thanks! CL8 18:54, 2 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

I am from Germany but live in United states now. German law says marijuana is not legal but if you have less than small amount cops usually give only a warning or maybe fine if there asholes. Map says decriminalized...is that what decriminalized means? Thanks nice map. --Retro89

Yes this is basically what decriminalized means. Thanks much for your input! :) CL8 00:56, 3 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

UK

Latest comment: 18 years ago3 comments3 people in discussion

It's not decriminalised in the UK. It is still illegal - the recent changes were changing the drug from a Class B restricted substance to Class C.

I agree - was suprised to see this, it's /not/ decriminalised in the UK. I think even the 'illegal but often unenforced' category is not correct for the UK, the legal implications in terms of severity of punishment may have been relaxed recently (now 'class C') but this by no means decriminalises the drug. I believe this diagram is misleading. 82.112.137.168 17:38, 1 January 2007 (UTC)PeterReply

A Class C drug is not decriminalized. Large possession, growing, distributing, trafficking -- all still illegal. However it seems that the prosecution statute gives NO JAIL TIME for minor possession. Therefore Class C drugs are still ILLEGAL but minor possession of them for personal use IS decriminalized and minor possession of them for personal use is exactly and exclusively what this map displays. If you want this changed, find me a source that says jail time is possible for minor possession. All of the sources that I have indicate that it is not. Thanks! CL8 19:00, 2 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Cannabis is a class c drug and as such falls under the Home Office regulations on drugs, class c drugs CAN lead to jail time.THE STATUTE DOES ALLOW FOR JAIL TIME PLEASE SOURCE WHERE IT HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF AND NOT JUST A CHANGE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO POLICE OFFICERS. DECRIMINALIZATION MEANS NO LONGER A CRIMINAL OFFENCE NOT NO JAIL TIME...IT IS STILL VERY MUCH A CRIMINAL OFFENCE EVEN FOR MINOR POSSESSION. A source for you....the home office..http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drugs-law/Class-a-b-c/. Cannabis is a class C drug and as such can lead to up to two years in prison or unlimited fine.

I noticed this too, but because of the fact that the two maps show conflicting information. It is a class C drug, and this conflicting information should be sorted quickly. Reverieuk 23:18, 21 February 2007 (UTC)Reply

Peru

Is there another source supporting the information that marijuana is legal in Peru? I did a small research in google and most sites say there is a ban on the drug.

Colombia

Latest comment: 18 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion

The sources given here for Colombia and other countries are simply unreliable per W:NPOV.. and should be colored in red. --F3rn4nd0 ^{BLA BLA BLA} 20:40, 2 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

I am in the process of looking for sources but official sources are hard to find. In the absence of official sources I will use news stories, nongovernmental organizations, or the published collected experience of travellers, etc.. This map is true to the best of the knowledge collected here. It does not claim to be definitive, but rather is a work in progress. The sources will get better as more and more users contribute. CL8 23:41, 2 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Marijuana isnt legal in Spain

Latest comment: 18 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Im not an expert on drug legal stuff. But Im pretty sure marijuana isnt legal in Spain, I live in Madrid, and I can assure this map isnt true (I wish it were true)

It is true. Check out the discussion here: User talk:CL8#Spain. CL8 01:24, 7 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

misleading image

Latest comment: 18 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

in the United States, it is a supreme court ruling that state decriminalization of marijuana is unconstitutional under the commerce clause. seeing as this is the case, i believe marijuana is definitely illegal in every state, and is not decriminalized (although local authorities can still go about enforcing the law at their own discretion).

This is not the case. I live in Ohio, a decriminalized state. There is no federal enforcement for minor possession. I have heard of and read of numerous cases of simple citations being given for minor possession. It is decriminalized here and the federal government does nothing to interfere with it. I understand that this is the case in all decriminalized US states. CL8 06:14, 8 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Weed in Taiwan

Latest comment: 18 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion

I am from Taiwan and it is definately illegal to smoke there, smuggling is punishable by death or life imprisonment and smoking it is automatic jail time for 18 years. I dont know where the above website got that information from that Taiwan is only a 4 on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 1 being most strict). It is definately illegal there. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.85.3.189 (talk) 06:38, 24 January 2007 (UTC).Reply

Give me a decent source and I'll change it! :) CL8 15:20, 28 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

Hashish

Latest comment: 18 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion

Can we have a map for the hashish belt (Morocco to India plus Europe). We have one of Europe which was in hashish and has been removed for POV reasons concerning the article and not the map; we have the world map but were it possible a map of the hash belt would be great, SqueakBox 17:38, 3 February 2007 (UTC)Reply

Well, you can make it yourself....or if you have a country list for hash laws, etc., I'd be happy to make it for you. :) CL8 19:49, 7 February 2007 (UTC)Reply

geting high in spain

Latest comment: 18 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

here it staes that possesiom of small amount of cannabis is decrimnilized while the map states that it is legel - who's right? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 132.77.4.43 (talk) 08:41, 2 March 2007 (UTC).Reply

Decriminalized in New Mexico, USA

Latest comment: 18 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

However if in possession of over 1 ounce then it is illegal —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Thrawst (talk • contribs) 17:20, 17 March 2007 (UTC).Reply