Decriminalized, Not Legalized: A Pilot Study of South African University Students’ Views on the Use, Impact, Legalization and Decriminalization of Marijuana

• Published date: 01 October 2020
• Author: Molewane Mametja,Eleanor Ross
• Date: 01 October 2020
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042620931480
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042620931480

Journal of Drug Issues

2020, Vol. 50(4) 490 –506

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042620931480

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Article

Decriminalized, Not Legalized:

A Pilot Study of South African

University Students’ Views on

the Use, Impact, Legalization and

Decriminalization of Marijuana

Molewane Mametja1 and Eleanor Ross2

Abstract

Given the 2018 decriminalization of marijuana in South Africa for personal use and medicinal

consumption, the aim of this research was to explore the perceptions of university students

regarding the use, impact, legalization, and decriminalization of marijuana. Key findings revealed

that a fair number of participants acknowledged using marijuana. When asked about the

potential impact of marijuana on users, their families and significant others, they seemed to

have a good understanding of the effects of the drug. However, while some participants were

aware of the addictive nature of marijuana, others were not aware of the risk of addiction from

smoking or ingesting this substance. However, they were able to weigh up the risks as well as

the benefits of legalization/decriminalization of marijuana. This study has implications for health

care professionals working with youth who use illicit substances such as marijuana, and in

developing prevention and intervention programs aimed at the youth.

Keywords

marijuana, university students, youth, decriminalization, legalization, substance use, impact

Introduction

Illicit substance use, misuse, and addiction are major public health problems worldwide (Kavak

et al., 2019). Marijuana is a widely grown, readily available and accessible drug and is the most

commonly used illicit substance in South Africa, with heavy use leading to negative conse-

quences (Phillips et al., 2017). The use of marijuana is particularly high among the youth, includ-

ing university students (Vidourek et al., 2018). During past years, a number of countries have

employed changes in law that expressly reduced the degree of criminalization of marijuana use.

In countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, marijuana has been legalized for medi-

cal use only. Decriminalization of marijuana in Australia took place in 1992 through the Drugs of

Dependence Act 1989 and in Canada it was decriminalized in 2018. Studies show that although

1University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

2University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Corresponding Author:

Eleanor Ross, Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524 Auckland Park,

Johannesburg 2006, South Africa.

Email: eross@uj.ac.za

931480JODXXX10.1177/0022042620931480Journal of Drug IssuesMametja and Ross

research-article2020

Mametja and Ross 491

marijuana has been used both medicinally and recreationally throughout the world for thousands

of years, it still remains illegal to grow, use, and possess in most countries, including Canada

(Kelsall, 2017).

In 1922 the South African government enforced Regulation 14 that criminalized the posses-

sion of addictive substances (Customs and Excises Duty Act 35 of 1922 as amended, now

repealed). Under these regulations, the cultivation, possession, and sale of marijuana were out-

lawed (Chanock, 2001). In 1937, the government introduced the Weed Act, which comprehen-

sively banned marijuana in South Africa (Paterson, 2009). In South Africa in February 2014, The

Medical Innovations Bill was introduced, as the doctor who had been treating cancer patients

with marijuana, intended for the bill to legalize marijuana for medical and industrial use. This bill

led to legalization of marijuana production for medical purposes in February 2017. In 2018, the

Constitutional Court of South Africa passed a law stating in Section 4b of the Drugs and Drug

Trafficking Act No. 140 of 1992 that in the case of an adult, he or she can be in possession of

marijuana in a private space for personal consumption. The decriminalization of marijuana for

personal consumption in private spaces by an adult has been a controversial issue with concerns

around rates of use and potential harmful impacts on users and significant others (Phillips et al.,

2017). Studies indicate that there may be shortcomings associated with supporting the decrimi-

nalization of marijuana as it may increase the use and addiction rates (Vidourek et al., 2018).

Moreover, research has shown that marijuana can be a gateway drug to harder drugs like heroin

and cocaine (Melberg et al., 2007).

Marijuana use among university students has remained an important public health problem for

the past few years, with a steady growth in occurrence nationwide (Vidourek et al., 2018). In

addition, marijuana use is particularly concerning among university students due to the growing

evidence around marijuana being linked to several health consequences associated with its use

(Johnston et al., 2015; Newsbury et al., 2000; Vidourek et al., 2018). The use of marijuana can

have a negative impact on the academic performance of university students since it affects their

concentration, and attention span is decreased with the use and abuse of this substance (Brook

et al., 2011). Many students who abuse marijuana also drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes (Peltzer

et al., 2011). Research shows that some college students commence with less harmful substances

which may then leads them to start abusing more dangerous substances, like cocaine (Peltzer

et al., 2011). This behavior then leads the way to engagement in risky activities such as having

unprotected sex; which in turn puts them at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases

(STDs; Peltzer et al., 2011).

Consequently, given the particularly high use of marijuana among the youth (Vidourek et al.,

2018), and as university students fall within the ambit of young adults, it seemed important to

examine their views on marijuana. Specific objectives were to explore university students’ (a)

experiences and opinions regarding the use of marijuana, (b) their understanding of the impact of

marijuana on users, their families and significant others, and (c) their views on the fact that mari-

juana is currently decriminalized but not legalized in South Africa. It was envisaged that the

study might contribute to the knowledge base of health care professionals involved in the field of

substance abuse, as results may be used in awareness and prevention programs.

Literature Review

The Impact of Marijuana on Users and Significant Others

Although marijuana is known to be beneficial in treating some medical conditions such as cancer,

it can also have negative effects on the health of the user (Berenson, 2019; Owen et al., 2018;

Peltzer et al., 2011). For example, Peltzer et al. (2011) argue that the short-term effects on the

user include difficulties with short-term memory, paranoia, hallucinations, and problems with