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Special Features of Narcotics Control and the Narcotics Situation in Finland

NCJ Number
106489
Author(s)
O Kontula
Date Published
1986
Length
282 pages
Annotation
This study reports on the development and special features of Finland's narcotics control policies.
Abstract
Finland initially opposed the international control of narcotics, but by the 1960's, widespread hashish use encouraged legislation to criminalize the use of narcotics. If police now suspect narcotics involvement, they can arrest suspects and search premises even when very minor offenses have been committed. In 1981, Finland also criminalized the non-authorized use of psychoactive drugs. For example, Finnish law enables the police to detain a narcotics suspect for questioning for 17 days, even if there was no concrete evidence of a narcotics offense at the time of arrest. In Finland, hashish and marijuana account for nearly 70 percent of the illegal drugs; banned pharmaceutical drugs account for 20 percent; and amphetamines, LSD, and heroin account for almost 10 percent. About 70 percent of the narcotics cases brought to court in Finland lead to fines; 20 percent lead to imprisonment, and ten percent are dismissed for lack of evidence. 104 references.

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