Iceland prepares to decriminalize cannabis

The Icelandic government is proposing to decriminalize cannabis, and other drugs, to adults. If Parliament votes in favor, the possession and use of drugs will no longer be illegal. The Ministry of Health is changing its approach. Rather than viewing users as criminals, it prefers to view them as patients.

«Over the past decade, there has been a shift in attitudes toward drugs around the world, and doubts about the effectiveness of the war on drugs have grown, according to Health Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir, a member of the Green and Left Movement »The focus should be on prevention and public health. It is important to concentrate on harm reduction and on reducing drug use and drug-related problems."

The ministry must therefore now regulate drug use. This involves setting a maximum amount of drugs that an adult may possess. To account for Iceland’s population of some 340,000, citizens will be able to share their opinions on an online platform.

By decriminalizing drugs, the government also hopes to steer users in a different direction. «E»Alongside the abolition of penalties for drug possession, it is important to expand resources and services, with the goal of increasing access to basic health services for marginalized people who use drugs, in accordance with their specific needs.", ," the ministry adds.

Beer Banned for 75 Years

In recent years, Iceland has been relaxing its drug laws. In 2018, a safe consumption room opened in Reykjavík, the country’s capital. The goal: to allow drug users to inject drugs in a safe environment and avoid the risk of contracting HIV. According to the Red Cross, about ten Icelandic drug users die each year from this disease.

Cannabis, however, remains illegal in Iceland, both for recreational and medical use. In 2017, after coming to power, the Pirate Party proposed legalizing medical cannabis. But this initiative has gone unimplemented to this day. Iceland is among the world's heaviest cannabis smokers. According to the Adam Smith Institute in 2017, 18 % of the Icelandic population uses cannabis.

The country has made significant efforts to keep young people away from cannabis. In 1997, 17 % of them had already smoked it, one of the highest figures in Europe. The «Drug-free Iceland» program» therefore tackles the problem and is now regarded as a model.

Iceland has also come a long way when it comes to alcohol consumption. In 1915, prohibition was enacted. All alcoholic beverages were banned. This didn’t last long, however, as wine was legalized ten years later, followed by spirits in the 1930s. But beer wasn’t authorized until March 1, 1989, because Iceland wanted to gain independence from Denmark, which had administered the island for 600 years. In Iceland, March 1 is now known as «Beer Day.».