Ten Years After Decriminalization, Drug Abuse Down by Half in Portugal

The only reason why America keeps drugs Illegal is so their court systems can make more money.
Now I need to learn Portuguese so I can go to Portugal to get something, want crack ? Make your own or go to the crack store!

The point many seem to be missing is that the harm being done to Portugal in general, and it's people in particular is being very much reduced by this polcy.

Here is a report on the link between drugs lawas and violence from The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy Report

The Informal Drug Policy Dialogue is a meeting in Portugal. IT occured This year in Janusry, and looked at the following topic:

The Portuguese Law 30/2000, which came into effect in July 2001, decriminalised possession of illicit drugs for personal use. Those apprehended by the police in possession of illicit drugs for personal use are now sent before dissuasion commissions, rather than criminal courts. Drug users are provided with the opportunity to access drug dependence treatment and other services. What are the outcomes of the Portuguese decriminalisation after a decade of implementation and what is its relevance for national and international drug policy debates?

Source

I hope people will take the time to look at these sites, and the information within. There is a lot to be learned from the in-depth scientific research being done.

Originally posted by Heartisblack
Make your own or go to the crack store!

Then you will go to jail.
(in Portuguese, so you can start learning: "Então vais para a prisão.")

Producing and selling drugs is still illegal, consuming them is the only thing that has been decriminalized.

As I live in a street that has a methadone clinic, I have noticed the reduction in people I saw going there. In fact, I don't remember seeing one (that was identifiable as a methadone clinic user) in some months.

I also stopped seeing people on the street looking like drug addicts.

Crime is also lower, and even if we have many serious crimes from the drug traffickers (we are one of the entry points in Europe, mostly from Africa and South America), the crimes committed by the drug users to get money to buy their drugs have been much lower than before.

Wow, but still if you're not caught you can pretty much get away with anything....................thank you for your information.

Originally posted by kro32

People I don't feel will rebel just because limits are placed on them. If that were the case than the whole world would be rebelling from traffic laws. Not happening.

Are you kidding? I hope you weren't expecting anyone to take that seriously.

And I understand about doing what you want to your own body but when the drugs may cause you to affect other people then it becomes more than just doing what you want to yourself.

"... when drugs may cause you to affect other people then it becomes more than just doing what you want to yourself." ?? Guns MAY cause people to be shot and killed. Does that support the case for prohibiting them? Don't worry, there are many other examples that can be used here.

Conservatalitarians... I'll never fully understand that mentality. Has something to do with bandwagons, I believe.

You argument with alcohol there really isn't a response too since that's just as bad as drugs so can't disagree with you on that one.

Alcohol, just as bad as drugs?? Alcohol IS a drug, and a particularly dangerous one at that. It is not just dangerous for the user but for the people he comes in contact with. But like any drug it can be used and it can be abused. Alcohol is one that has a very high potential for being abused. Despite that, prohibition did not work for alcohol. Promoting alcohol as a national pasttime, tradition, and a social certerpiece is really not the answer either.

That many do not recognize alcohol as a drug, and speak of it like it is not a drug, this just demonstrates the effectiveness of the propoganda machine in place. At least you recognize the potential for abuse. And I am assuming you understand prohibition is not the answer.

Decriminalizing use and minor possesion is really no solution. It lessens the impact a little but still keeps the illicit network in place, keeps drug values inflated way beyond any reasonable free-market value, and perhaps keeps that insidious pot from boiling over so that an anarchic system of criminal enterprise is kept in-place - as the corrupt forces in politics demand, and so that other big-money industries as the pharmaceutical, liquor, "corrections" systems, and various governmental agencies can keep raping taxpayers to perpetuate systems and entities that have no reason to exist other than to continue their illegitimate existence.

I would hope the US not adopt any such similar system. It must completely dismantle the system it currently has in place and NOT start over again.

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


Well said sir, I couldn't agree more. It is time people saw the whole picture for what it is. Billions have been spent on drug law enforcement in the last 10 years source and the problems associated with drug use are worse now than ever. It needs a total rethink.

reply to post by kro32

That's something else I was gonna search for and also if the amount of drug related hospitalizations have increased but I hate researching so i'll let someone else do it

Abuse halved yet hospitalizations up? I don't think anyone will waste their time.

Prohibition did not work for alcohol, what makes anyone think it should work for drugs?

Denying people the legal right to use something they are physically addicted to ensures a role for criminals who are only too happy to provide it at a very high price. The criminals never want to see an addict cured, because they will lose their revenue. Such a policy is a guaranteed failure on many levels in terms of the effect on society. It increases crime and prevents the treatment and rehabilitation of users. The only winners are the criminals, police, judges, and owner/operators of jails. I suppose you could say that politicians who support the system and thus get funding from all the above are also winners. The rest of us all loose.

Treating addiction to whatever substance as a treatable, medical condition is the only intelligent approach to the problem that has some hope of success across the board. Bringing in such a rational approach may be near impossible considering what camp the politicians are in.

People are people; no matter what country they live in. If it works in Portugal it would work everywhere; except that the rest of us need to go further than merely allowing possession. Criminals need to be displaced from all aspects of production and distribution as well.

As another poster alluded to, legalization should not, however, go the extreme we see now with alcohol being heavily promoted everywhere through advertising. We should not actually be promoting use of any substance that is addictive. Encouraging use of addictive substances is ludicrous. No-one should be making ridiculous sums of money off of people being addicted to anything.