Cannabis legalization and coloniality: an analysis of the canadian case and the limits of dessecuritization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/0103-2070.ts.2026.242942Keywords:
cannabis legalization, coloniality, desecuritization, Indigenous people, drug policyAbstract
This study analyzes the cannabis legalization process in Canada and argues that, given the historical impacts of prohibitionism and the “war on drugs”, it is necessary to think beyond the logic of desecuritization in order to understand the persistence of prohibitionist and colonial practices. To support this argument, the work examines the tensions between the Canadian federal government and Indigenous peoples, highlighting issues related to sovereignty, autonomy, and political participation. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, based on primary and secondary sources and on the process tracing theory testing method. We conclude, albeit partially, that the Canadian legalization process reveals the persistence and reconfiguration of colonialist practices that disregard Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination rights.
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