Portugal’s Experiment In Drug Decriminalization Has Been A Success

[freedomno1]

On July 1st 2001 Portugal legalized drugs.

This month, Portugal celebrates fourteen years of drug decriminalization. The grand experiment is now considered a happy success considering it was adopted out of desperation and in the face of dire warnings from proponents of the global drug war.

The irony is that decriminalisation of drugs can reduce harms more effectively than prohibition. This is where the Drug Foundation now finds itself. Bell's current angle is that our drug law turns 40 this year and is showing its age. Time for an overhaul.

The Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland and many more places had drug epidemics between the 1970s and 1990s, and they implemented programs that shifted away from imprisonment and toward treatment. They worked. Portugal's decriminalization program in the past 15 years has led to one of the lowest drug mortality rates in the world (3 in every million). They did that by halting the imprisonment of drug users and even small-time dealers in order to put money where it needed to be: treatment. Their drug arrests reduced by 66 percent in order to shift law enforcement toward only the "big fish" and now they can also concentrate more on serious crimes like murder, rape, robbery, etc.

“Ultimately, the evidence internationally is that drug use is best dealt with primarily as a health issue and not as a criminal justice one,” he said. “It is this approach that brings the best results, in terms of both health outcomes and cost effectiveness.”

Compilation of articles:
http://theweek.com/speedreads/564073/economist-takes-long-hard-look-drug-legalization-declares-good
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7LKfLxVtzE
https://mises.org/library/portugal%E2%80%99s-experiment-drug-decriminalization-has-been-success
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/70091188/drug-reform-is-not-a-dunne-deal
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinions/x45917962/Treatment-a-far-saner-approach-than-a-drug-war
http://www.newser.com/story/209613/600-churches-say-its-time-to-quit-war-on-drugs.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/public-to-have-say-on-legality-of-drugs-340721.html

[newflesh]

The irony is that decriminalisation of drugs can reduce harms more effectively than prohibition. This is where the Drug Foundation now finds itself. Bell's current angle is that our drug law turns 40 this year and is showing its age. Time for an overhaul.

The war on drugs was a scam from the start, completely agree that current laws are completely out of touch with reality. The only benefactors from criminalisation are the private prisons and lazy police forces who'd rather bust a few kids smoking weed (to prop up their arrest quotas) than go after the real criminals. I've heard the CIA also makes a few $$$ on the side

[bryant.coleman]

If drugs are legalized, then three of the most important crime cartels will lose a major part of their revenues.

1. Drug Cartels: If drugs are legalized, then various drug cartels in Mexico, United States, Italy.etc will become obsolete.
2. Banking Cartels: Without the drug money, the banks such as HSBC and Goldman Sucks will lose a major part of their revenues.
3. Pharma Cartels: If soft drugs such as marijuana are legalized, then the expensive painkillers marketed by the pharma giants will lose their market share.

[Tusk]

There is now more and more evidence that shows psychedelics are not addictive and have curative benefits, like post traumatic stress incl others. psychedelics should be legalized.

[newflesh]

There is now more and more evidence that shows psychedelics are not addictive and have curative benefits, like post traumatic stress incl others. psychedelics should be legalized.

Shrooms are also one of the few substances (like weed) that can grow and repair brain cells though don't tell that to Big Pharma, they'd rather jack you up with their pricey subscription drugs.


http://csglobe.com/magic-mushrooms-cure-ptsd-even-grow-brain-cells/

According to research from the University of South Florida, psilocybin, the active component within psychedelic mushrooms, is able to grow new brain cells—potentially offering treatment for mental illness and improving cognition.

The study, published in Experimental Brain Research, says psilocybin is able to bind to special receptors in the brain that stimulate healing and growth. In the case of these mushrooms, brain cell growth occurs. In mice, the researchers found psilocybin to actually help repair damaged brain cells and cure or relieve PTSD and depression.

[Tusk]

The indians called psychedelic mushrooms the flesh of the Gods for good reasons

[ShamrockHannah]

Psychedelics are enlightening so therefore the govt sees them as a threat to their power. They don't want the population to start thinking for themselves.

They don't want them to benefit from something that nature can provide. They would lose millions of people weren't so reliant on their nasty chemical medication. Imagine if everyone was to go or and pick their own actions and grow their own weed, alcohol sales would go right down too.

The world would be a better place in my opinion

[yayayo]

If drugs are legalized, then three of the most important crime cartels will lose a major part of their revenues.

1. Drug Cartels: If drugs are legalized, then various drug cartels in Mexico, United States, Italy.etc will become obsolete.
2. Banking Cartels: Without the drug money, the banks such as HSBC and Goldman Sucks will lose a major part of their revenues.
3. Pharma Cartels: If soft drugs such as marijuana are legalized, then the expensive painkillers marketed by the pharma giants will lose their market share.

I agree with 1) and 3), but I'm not sure about 2).

In my opinion drug users should be decriminalized for a very simple reason: They only do harm to themselves. I think as far nobody else is harmed people should be free to do whatever they want with their bodies and souls. Decriminalization will also free police resources for more important tasks.

Criminalization of drugs only drives prices up and quality down which leads to more drug-related crime and higher health risks.

ya.ya.yo!