There is a language surrounding the legalization debate that is not difficult to learn. Here is some of the
terminology frequently used by those who support or oppose legalization.
Legalization - Simply put, this means making legal what is currently illegal. Used in the context of drug policy,
it is a broad term that can mean different things to different people. To some it means making all illegal drugs
legal for anyone to use; to others it means making certain illegal drugs legal for certain people to use. There is no
specific definition of legalization because the parameters of legalization differ among supporters. The term must
be further defined by asking: Who will be able to use? Which drugs? At what potency? Where and when? With
what regulations? Regulated by whom or by which institutions? Enforced by whom or by which institutions?
Decriminalization - This term is used to describe the removal of, or reduction in, criminal penalties for
particular acts. Used in the context of drug policy, it is a broad term that often encompasses a range of measures
such as removal of criminal sanctions for simple possession of drugs or lowering of penalties for possession of
small amounts of illegal drugs.
Scheduled Drugs - This term refers to the tiered system at the state and federal levels of regulating psychoactive
drugs and access to them. The schedules draw distinctions among drugs with high abuse potential, such as
marijuana and heroin, for which the medical and scientific communities have concluded that there are no
currently accepted medical or therapeutic uses, and other drugs with abuse potential but accepted medical or
therapeutic uses. The classifications are illustrated on page 21.
Harm Reduction - This term refers to a public health concept of lowering the health consequences resulting
from certain behaviors. In the context of drug policy, it is often used to describe specific programs which attempt
to lower addict transmission of infectious disease. The term "harm minimization" is also frequently used.
