BACKGROUND: In the Czech Republic in 2010 a law was introduced decriminalizing personal possession of small quantities of several illicit drugs, including cannabis. METHODS: We use 2012 survey data to examine the effect of a change in cannabis policy on the age of onset of cannabis use. We estimate the effect of the policy change using a mixed proportional hazards framework that models the transition to first cannabis use. RESULTS: The change in cannabis policy did not affect the transition to first cannabis use. CONCLUSION: We find no evidence of cannabis decriminalization affecting the age of onset of cannabis use.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Marijuana Smoking epidemiology   legislation & jurisprudence   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Proportional Hazards Models MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Age of Onset MeSH
• Illicit Drugs legislation & jurisprudence   MeSH
• Legislation, Drug * MeSH
• Health Policy MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH

• Publication type
• Meeting Abstract MeSH

• MeSH
• Marijuana Abuse * MeSH
• Cannabis * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Public Policy MeSH
• Legislation, Drug MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comment MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

The article deals with the issue of decriminalization of drugs, in all relevant contexts, both in terms of criminal policy and legislation, as well as law enforcement, with focus on the Czech Republic. The article proceeds deductively from the general to the specific. First, it discusses the role of law in society and its legitimacy, with focus on legitimate criminal sanctions, which are discussed in the context of the principle of subsidiarity of criminal repression and the principle of opportunity (discretionary prosecution). After these general considerations, the article turns to the issue of drugs and discusses both drug policy and legislation, arguing that the general considerations are in favor of decriminalization tendencies in this area. In the final part, the article focuses on psychedelics, emphasizing a fundamental discrepancy between their factual and legal status and then considering ways of changing the perspective. At this point, the article outlines the importance of decriminalization of psychedelics for therapeutic use, which basically consist of rescheduling of these drugs. The aim of such decriminalization is to make psychedelic-assisted therapy legally available. The article concludes that this is the direction that criminal policy and law in the Czech Republic should take.

• MeSH
• Hallucinogens * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Law Enforcement MeSH
• Public Policy MeSH
• Legislation, Drug MeSH
• Criminals * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

The geopolitical uniqueness of the regional, socioeconomic situation and the existence of territories outside the control of the national government have facilitated the spread of drug use in Georgia. A special problem is injection of opiates, in particular heroin and Subutex (buprenorphine). It has been established that among registered HIV infected individuals the main route of transmission is injecting drug use. Although the prevalence of HIV among IDUs (injecting drug user) is only 1-3%, the high number of IDUs, and the high prevalence of hepatitis C in this population creates high risk of dramatic spread of HIV in Georgia. Beginning at the end of 2005, the GFATM (Global Fund against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) supported methadone substitution programmes in Georgia. At present, three programmes are functioning. At the same time, they involve 230 patients altogether. The studies carried out by the Research Institute on Addiction, with the aim to control the efficacy of pilot programmes have revealed a dramatic improvement of psychophysical state of patients, with very high rate of resocialization and decriminalization, significant diminishment of drug-related risky behaviour. Obtained results indicate high efficiency of methadone substitution programmes in Georgia, as an important tool both for treatment of opioid dependence and harm reduction. In order to obtain a more significant impact on public health substitution therapy programmes have to be further expanded.

• MeSH
• Hepatitis C MeSH
• HIV Infections etiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous complications   rehabilitation   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Methadone administration & dosage   MeSH
• Narcotics administration & dosage   MeSH
• Substance-Related Disorders rehabilitation   MeSH
• Psychology MeSH
• Harm Reduction MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Geographicals
• Georgia MeSH

Kniha je rozdělena do pěti oddílů, v nichž je představeno právní prostředí, které podmínilo starší fáze emancipačního úsilí, od prvních dokladů z počátku dualistické monarchie do poloviny 20. století; rozšíření povědomí o moderní homosexuální identitě v českých zemích v době před první světovou válkou; úsilí reformně orientovaných lékařů, právníků a samotných homosexuálů o zrušení všeobecné trestnosti homosexuálního jednání v podmínkách demokratické první republiky; zrušení této trestnosti za komunistického režimu a na závěr gay a lesbické emancipační úsilí v období od konce osmdesátých let do současnosti. Kniha zároveň sleduje též sociabilitu, která se s emancipačním úsilím pojila.

• MeSH
• Homosexuality MeSH
• Jurisprudence MeSH

Prague, the Czech Republic, is a popular sex tourism destination where sex work is decriminalized and young men offer sexual services at low prices relative to countries in Western Europe. This quantitative survey aimed to identify some of the demographic characteristics of these young men and their experiences in the sex industry. Internet escorts (N = 20) and sex workers in bars and clubs (N = 20) completed the survey anonymously in spring 2011. The results showed that sex workers in clubs often had troubled pasts and were forced into sex work to survive. They also reported incidents of violence, serious alcohol and drug use, as well as frequent gambling. The larger group of sex workers in Prague is made up of Internet escorts who have backgrounds that are not atypical for the average Czech youth. They had fewer problems with drugs and alcohol but were twice as likely as sex workers in bars and clubs to be victims of violent crime. Plans for interventions to help those who would change their line of work, as well as the importance of sociocultural context in understanding sex workers, are discussed.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Internet * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Crime Victims psychology   MeSH
• Sex Work psychology   MeSH
• Sexuality psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• Sexuality MeSH

• Conspectus
• Patologie. Klinická medicína
• NML Fields
• sexuologie