Tom Decorte is a professor of criminology and the director of the Institute for Social Drug research (ISD) at Ghent University. He answers questions from Olivier Taymans (an active member of Liaison antiprohibitionniste and project manager at FEDITO BXL): what’s the ISD, and what are its missions? Why be in favour of a regulation of cannabis, and why would decriminalisation not be sufficient? Is the distinction between medicinal and recreational cannabis essential? And which foreign models could be an inspiration?
Type: Conversations
Legalisation fears and reservations – Tom Decorte 02
Are the fears and reservations towards legalisation of cannabis justified? Tom Decorte, professor of criminology and director of the Institute for Social Drug research (ISD) at Ghent University, provides answers based on facts and analyses. He deconstructs various arguments that are often put forward to reject such legalisation (it would result in an increase in use, cannabis is an alleged gateway to other, supposedly «harder» drugs, etc.) and restates the purpose of drug policy.
How to regulate various drugs – Tom Decorte 03
Tom Decorte, professor of criminology and director of the Institute for Social Drug research (ISD) at Ghent University, is in favour of cannabis regulation. What is his position on other substances like methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, etc.? He sheds light on various aspects of the fine balance to be found between the advantages of regulation and the objective risks, the toxicity of these substances. Legalisation is not a magic bullet, but the real question is: do we want a policy that makes the problems, harms and risks associated with drug use even worse?
States, mafias, and social equity aspects of drug policies – Tom Decorte 04
Is it helpful to wage a war on drugs? For what reasons was this approach chosen? Who does this war actually target? What are its consequences? While answering these questions, Tom Decorte (professor of criminology and director of the Institute for Social Drug research at Ghent University) reflects on the strategy to adopt in order to fight the undermining of democratic structures by organised crime. He explains how drug policy is an important social justice issue.
Hypocrisy, taboo and stigma – Tom Decorte 05
In the fifth and last part of the interview, Tom Decorte (professor of criminology and director of the Institute for Social Drug research at Ghent University) addresses drug use on a more personal note. He shares various of his observations on hypocrisy, stigma, taboos, and the conservatism of institutions around this topic. Finally, he looks back on the reasons that led him to work on the subject of drugs and create the organisation Smart on Drugs in 2018.