Cannabis use policies of countries in the context of normalisation concept; A comparative analysis

Cannabis use and addiction have become a common problem all over the world. The increasing useage, the ease of transportation and the decrease in the usage age have become the major problems of the societies. The laws applied in this context differ from society to society. Each society has different perspectives in its strategies. The fact that cannabis use and addiction processes are examined under the concepts of normalization more clearly reveals the importance of this situation. There are countries where substance use is free, semi-free and prohibited. Therefore, drug use and dependence rates vary in each country. These differences, uncertainties in laws and laws in some countries in some countries can not be applied as a reason for not being applied. The degeneration of laws indirectly contributes to the normalization of cannabis use. In this study, it is aimed to discuss the use of cannabis, which has become very widespread in the world, in the context of the sociologic concepts of functionalism theory, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism theory. In this context, the concept of normalization been discussed in detail and these concept are evaluated in the context of the spread of cannabis use. Netherlands and Canada where the cannabis use is nonrestricted, the United Kingdom where the cannabis use is half-restricted, and Turkey where the cannabis use is restricted are the three countries elaborated in this study. The role of the legal status of cannabis use in these countries (whether restricted or not) on the normalization of cannabis use and the socialization processes that lead to the cannabis use are another issues that are examined in this study. Lastly, the possible consequences of normalization of cannabis use and are discussed. Keywords: normalization, functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism cannabis, normalization of cannabis use