Three terms. Three different policies. A six-minute read to understand what actually changes when drugs are decriminalised, and what doesn't.
People can be arrested, prosecuted, jailed or given a criminal record for possessing or using drugs.
People are not arrested or given criminal records for possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use. Drugs do not become a legal commodity.
The government creates legal rules for producing, selling and buying drugs.
Decriminalisation means drugs become legal.
Supply and sale of drugs remain criminal offences. Only possession of small amounts and personal use are decriminalised.
Everyone will start using drugs if drug use is decriminalised.
Evidence from countries that have decriminalised shows no major increase in drug use. Portugal saw drug use remain stable or decline.
People who use drugs are a danger to society.
People who use drugs can be productive, supportive members of society when the cycle of criminalisation is broken and replaced with rights-based health and social services.
People who use drugs have rights. Drug use does not remove your human rights, every person is entitled to dignity, care and equal protection under the law.
Six principles from IDPC that separate genuine decriminalisation from partial reforms.
Remove all sanctions for drug use and related activities.
Promote voluntary access to systems of care and support.
Meaningfully involve people who use drugs.
Expunge previous convictions for drugs and develop reparations for affected communities.
Comprehensively train authorities to ensure implementation and adherence to the decriminalised framework.
Redirect resources away from punitive systems towards rights-affirming services.
Source: idpc.net/decriminalisation
Decriminalisation is not about promoting drug use. It is about treating drug use as a health and social issue and protecting the rights and dignity of all people.
The Vusubuntu Coalition
A South African coalition advocating for the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use through approaches grounded in human rights, public health, dignity, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
Authors: Charity Monareng, Lucky Ndlovu, Phanini Lebise · Visual design: Allistair De Jongh
Read the full Decriminalisation Toolkit for model arguments, counter-messaging and country case studies, or the Youth Advocacy Toolkit for the campaign planning behind it.