Arenas of Drug Transactions: Adolescent Cannabis Transactions in England--Social Supply

• NCJ Number: 221102
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: Fall 2007 Pages: 845-866
• Author(s): Ross Coomber; Paul Turnbull
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study discusses the culture of young cannabis users in the context of social exchange.

Abstract

The findings suggest that there is little contact by young cannabis users to the wider drug market, and that it may be better to understand this activity as taking place in an arena of transaction rather than seeing it as an extension of the normally conceived drug market. There is sufficient difference within this arena of transaction from the wider drug market, and therefore, most youth activity involving cannabis should be dealt with less punitively by the criminal justice system. For nearly all of the young people in this research, initial exposure, continued use, and supplies of cannabis were all mediated via friendship networks, and that they have very little to do with established illicit drug markets. Contact with the wider drug market for nearly all of those interviewed was buffered by friends and/or friends of friends, and sometimes family. In general, the cannabis supply mechanisms utilized by young people, appeared to help maintain a distance between them and exposure to the wider drug markets. The use of and access to cannabis for young people revolves around the kind of social networking and activities that justify a separation of penalties distinct from those against dealers of a wider drug market. Young people involved in the exchange of cannabis are involved in a social exchange, just as they might exchange music, clothes, etc., which is a normal and integral part of young people’s lives. Also noted, however, young people recognize that the social exchange involving cannabis is an unlawful act. Given that other even more prevalent forms of social exchange of cigarettes and alcohol are also illicit for young people, the invitational edgier drift into the exchange of cannabis must appear to be marginal, especially in a context where cannabis use, if not normal is no longer considered deviant. Tables, references