· Canada
Canada lets possession be dealt with by a fine
Convictions had risen from a few dozen a year to thousands, and nearly half ended in prison. An amendment to the Narcotic Control Act let prosecutors proceed by summary conviction, and a fine quickly became the usual sentence. Earlier that year the government had appointed the Le Dain Commission, which went on to recommend ending the offence altogether.
Index score
1113+2 points
Score by segment
| Segment | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession25% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Personal cultivation25% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Punishment & enforcement20% of the index | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| Sharing & gifting10% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Consumption10% of the index | 1 | 1 | — |
| Legal access10% of the index | 0 | 0 | — |
Segments are scored from 0 to 10. Canada's scores have changed again since.