title: Preferences for policy options for cannabis in an Australian general population: A discrete choice experiment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Policy choices for illicit drugs such as cannabis entail consideration of competing factors such as individual health, societal views about pleasure, and criminal justice impacts. Society must weigh up these factors in determining the preferred cannabis policy; although often cast as a contest between legalisation of cannabis or full prohibition the actual policy choices are not so black and white. This study assessed societal preferences for different cannabis policies and multiple consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  A discrete choice experiment (DCE) quantified value-based preferences for alternative cannabis policies described by the five key attributes legal status, health harms, criminal justice service costs, rates of cannabis use and purchase location. An online survey was conducted on a population sample of 1020 Australians. The analytical model was based on stated choices for Policy A, B or Current Policy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed a strong general preference for either civil penalties or legalisation compared to cannabis cautioning (Current Policy) and a strong dislike of criminalising possession and use of cannabis. Results also demonstrate difference in preferences among those with different demographics and beliefs. Understanding these nuances help to quantify the range of preferences held within the population and can be used to inform policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first known DCE survey applied to the area of illicit drugs policy. It demonstrates the public hold disparate views on the most appropriate status for cannabis offences and they are able to make trade-offs between policy choices and outcomes in complex areas of social policy.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: M.Shanahan@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011640:Public Policy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cannabis policy; Discrete choice experiments; Preference elicitation; Public preferences; Social policy