Decriminalization

Abstract

When there is a consensus that classifying an act or behavior as a crime is no longer justifiable, unenforceable, or society simply no longer views it as a threat, decriminalization offers a means to remove the criminal sanctions attached to the act or behavior. This occurrence is most closely associated with victimless crimes, but the specific crimes discussed for decriminalization vary from area to area such as prostitution in the United States and homosexuality in Germany. The crime most associated with debates about decriminalization is drug use, more specifically, marijuana use. Although frequently discussed, marijuana decriminalization has only occurred in limited areas due to concerns over increased marijuana use after decriminalization and the possibility of a gateway effect toward other illicit substances. Despite these concerns, research has shown only minimal increases in drug use in areas following decriminalization that often mirrors increases in areas that have not decriminalized.