While this figure relates drugs on a whole, is not unreasonable to expect that marijuana-related
incarcerations would have fallen as well. Figure 3: Trend in Drug Possession Referrals in
Portugal (2001- 2005).
Source: Huges and Stevens (2007) [7]
Meanwhile, the post decriminalization data for Administrative Sanctions241 increased 8 percentage points in 2002, one year after the liberalization of the marijuana legal framework. However, it was noted that other marijuana-related metrics trended upwards prior to decriminalization. Both marijuana Presumed Offences and Convictions as a percentage of total drug-related offences, increased every year since 1999 (Figure 4). Thus, the presumed rise in the use of marijuana may not entirely be because of the legislative change.
Figure 4: Trend in Marijuana-related Administrative Sanctions, Presumed Offences, and Conviction (% of total sanctions, offences and convections, Portugal (1999-2002)
Source: Huges and Stevens (2007) [7]
Moreover, the impact on law enforcement of the decriminalization of marijuana in South Australia has been consequential. According to available data for the fiscal years 1987/1988 to 1998/1999, there
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These sanctions replaced the penal sanctions for drug use and possession, which may include fines and prison time (Huges and Stevens, 2007).
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