Normalization of cannabis use and its relationship to other drug use: Policy Implications

• In Event: The Changing Dynamics of Cannabis: Attitudes, Policy and Medical Uses

Abstract

Normalization has been called “the most important development in the sociology of drug use in several decades,” yet little research considers the natural history of drug use throughout the life course, especially extending into later adulthood. While cannabis may be the most “normalized’ illicit drug, the extent to which this acceptability extends to other, potentially more dangerous drugs, is largely speculative. Based on interviews with 165 socially integrated adult users in 4 Canadian provinces, this study examines their perceptions and experiences with various drugs. While all were regular cannabis users, and most had histories of other drug use, this waned over time but did not disappear. Some indication that cocaine and ecstasy use were also partially normalized as recreational drugs was displayed among a minority. However, elevated concerns that regular cannabis use leads to or sustains dependent use of other drugs are not warranted; rather adult recreational users adopt a hierarchy of dangerousness based on their and peer experiences. This leads to long-term commitment to cannabis and occasional but controlled use of other drugs. The implications of these normalizing trends for drug policy reform emphasize the importance of tailoring decriminalizing or regulatory approaches to patterns and consequences of specific drugs.

Author

• Patricia Gail Erickson, University of Toronto