Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs Eleven Years Ago And The Results Are Staggering

[Coyotl]

Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs Eleven Years Ago And The Results Are Staggering
Samuel Blackstone Jul 17 2012 http://www.businessinsider.com.au/portugal-drug-policy-decriminalization-works-2012-7

On July 1st, 2001, Portugal decriminalized every imaginable drug, from marijuana, to cocaine, to heroin. Some thought Lisbon would become a drug tourist haven, others predicted usage rates among youths to surge.Eleven years later, it turns out they were both wrong.

Over a decade has passed since Portugal changed its philosophy from labelling drug users as criminals to labelling them as people affected by a disease. This time lapse has allowed statistics to develop and in time, has made Portugal an example to follow.

First, some clarification.

Portugal’s move to decriminalize does not mean people can carry around, use, and sell drugs free from police interference. That would be legalization. Rather, all drugs are “decriminalized,” meaning drug possession, distribution, and use is still illegal. While distribution and trafficking is still a criminal offence, possession and use is moved out of criminal courts and into a special court where each offender’s unique situation is judged by legal experts, psychologists, and social workers. Treatment and further action is decided in these courts, where addicts and drug use is treated as a public health service rather than referring it to the justice system (like the U.S.), reports Fox News.

The resulting effect: a drastic reduction in addicts ...................

[niyad]

1. amazing how rational thought applied to a problem works, eh?

[RC]

2. Yeah, but, bit, but... How can the law enforcement make any money kicking in doors in the middle of

the night and the for profit prison system make a profit, if mere possession and use of drugs isn't a felony? How can they rationalize confiscating anybodies property connected to drugs if the drugs are decriminalized? Where's the profit motive with treating people humanely and with empathy?

Oh yeah, that wasn't the United States, the greatest nation in the world, that's why.

[AlbertCat]

5. Good God Man!

How would our for profit prisons survive without drug users being criminals?????

Think of the for profit prisons, will ya?

[hootinholler]

16. THAT is simply a side effect from the real purpose

Suppressing the minority vote.

If the for profit prison industry was the driving factor here, then many more poor white people would be in jail.

[hunter]

3. Kick.

Because drug addiction is a public health problem, not a criminal problem.

[1000words]

4. Not only am I pleased to see a rational solution succeed ...

I am now armed with a rock solid rebuttal.

[riderinthestorm]

6. K&R times 1000. Long past time to end the war on drugs. nt

[Coyotl]

8. And release all the people in jail who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses

Plus, restore voting rights to the millions who have been disenfranchised.

No more war on Mr. Nixon's political enemies, please.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Yeah, exactly.

Save prison space for the truly dangerous and violent. It's unconscionable that we let murderers and rapists out to make more room for pot smokers.

[countryjake]

14. +1

The prison industrial complex would fall in a tailspin if this were to happen!

[SHRED]

7. Thanks for posting this

[Kablooie]

9. But think how lonely all the true criminals would be without their legions of druggies to bully.

[SHRED]

10. even though the article is dated...

... It is still relevant and a timely message. We need this in the USA badly.

[Feral Child]

12. K&R n/t

[freedumb]

13. but uhmurica be the greatest country in the galaxy cuz we gots that thar freedumb

[Wilms]

15. ^

[oldandhappy]

17. Sanity!

Amazing, eh??!!

[duhneece]

18. Millions of Americans ...and their children & mama's have been hurt

by the War on Drugs. I know, dads too...and their friends, but I'm a mama & I speak of my hurt.
Treating the self-medicating from a public health perspective would be more effective and more helpful.
Thank you for the post, Coyotl. I can't express how grateful I am.

[Matariki]

19. Well, they probably also don't have private for-profit prisons to fill