Drug policy of Delkora

The drug policy of Delkora is considered to be among the most liberal in Eracura. Possession for personal consumption of all drugs is legal and treated as a public health issue, while drug trafficking is considered a serious criminal offense. Delkoran law additionally distinguishes between hard and soft drugs; many types of soft drugs can be legally purchased. Drug policy in Delkora is governed by the Regulated Substances Act of 1998.

History

The first major piece of narcotics legislation in Delkora was the Opium Act of 1916, which regulated the sale and possession of many opiates. In 1942, the Act was amended to also regulate amphetamine and prohibit the sale of cocaine for recreational use. In 1948, it was further amended to prohibit the sale and possession of cannabis.

Beginning in the 1960s, there were debates within the Federal Parliament about whether to legalize certain drugs, with some advocating that Delkora pursue an approach similar to Gylias. In 1963, the government of Mette Elvensar passed the Narcotics Act, which decriminalized possession of recreational drugs for personal use, but stopped short of calls to legalize cannabis and other soft drugs.

In the 1980s, the governments of Lars af Vellarand and Ulrik Andersen adopted a zero tolerance approach to drug policy. Under the Regulated Substances Act of 1982, possession of any amount of narcotics was made a criminal offense, and no distinctions were made between hard and soft drugs.

The Regulated Substances Act of 1998, passed by the government of Emma Jørgensen, established the current drug classification regime, legalized the sale of cannabis and many psychedelics, and redirected government resources toward harm reduction and rehabilitation and away from carceral measures.

Harm reduction

Harm reduction is a central feature of Delkoran drug policy. The government invests a considerable amount in drug rehabilitation programs, public education campaigns, drug checking programs, and needle exchange programs. Overdose prevention centers are available in most parts of the country.

Harm reduction services in Delkora are based on a model of voluntary availability, whereby services are free and easily accessible to encourage their utilization without the need for court-ordered mandates and other coercive measures. In general, the only exception to this tenet is in the case of persons whose addiction is deemed a danger to the public. For example, a person convicted of drunk driving multiple times may be ordered by a judge to undergo rehabilitation.

Drug classification

The Regulated Substances Act classifies drugs according to four major factors, including risk of physical harm to the user, dependence and addiction liability, social harm, and medicinal value. Particular drugs can be reclassified by an act of the Federal Parliament or a regulation issued by the Regulated Substances Authority. The Act establishes the following classification scheme:

• Schedule I: High risk recreational drugs. Includes heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, among others. These drugs cannot be sold legally.
• Schedule II: High risk medicinal drugs. Includes amphetamine, most opiates and anesthetics, sedatives, and certain analgesics. These drugs cannot be sold for recreational use and can only be obtained with a prescription.
• Schedule III: Moderate risk recreational drugs. Includes alcohol, nicotine, DMT, and MDMA, among others. May be produced by any licensed business and sold in restricted quantities.
• Schedule IV: Minimal risk recreational drugs. Includes cannabis, psilocybin, and LSD, among others. May be produced and sold by any licensed business.
• Schedule V: Minimal risk medicinal drugs that do not require a prescription, but which can only be sold in a pharmacy. Includes aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and cough medicine, among others.

Criminal law

The crime of drug trafficking is defined under Ch. 9 Art. II Narkotikahandel §1a-e of the Delkoran Penal Code. It consists of selling, producing, or transporting a Schedule I or II substance without legal authority. Penalties vary considerably according to a number of factors, including amount trafficked, criminal history of the defendant, and whether or not the trafficking was part of an organized crime operation. In the most serious cases, trafficking in a Schedule I substance can carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, while trafficking in a Schedule II substance is punishable by imprisonment up to 5 years.

Unlawful trading in a substance listed under Schedule III, IV, or V is not considered drug trafficking and is treated as an infraction rather than a criminal offense. It is generally only punishable by small fines or community service. Enforcement of these infractions varies between states, although it is typically lax, as the police devote far more resources to combating trafficking.

Possession of a regulated substance for personal consumption is fully legal under Delkoran law. Likewise, cultivation for personal use of certain substances, such as cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms, is permitted.

Culture

Recreational drug use has played a prominent role in many Delkoran cultural scenes over the years. During the counterculture movement of the 1950s and 60s, recreational use of psychedelic drugs by radical youths, artists, and musicians was widespread. Drug use played an important role in the emergence of Delkoran psychedelic rock, as well as the T-by dance rock scene in the city of Tybenhoth.

Over the years, recreational drug use has increasingly become an accepted part of Delkoran culture. Cannabis dispensaries can be found in most parts of the country. Similarly, bars, nightclubs, and coffee shops that serve cannabis, LSD, and psilocybin are common in the major cities. Notable examples of such coffee shops are Schedule 4 in Norenstal and Cafe Odin in Tybenhoth.