Drug decriminalization in Portugal decreases number of addicts

[Someone]

 

Drug decriminalization in Portugal decreases number of addicts

 

After 11 years, the effectiveness of the policy has been measured.

 

Samuel Blackstone, Business Insider July 18, 2012 16:50

 

On July 1, 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 labeling drug users as criminals to labeling 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 offense, 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 US), reports Fox News.

 

The resulting effect: a drastic reduction in addicts, with Portuguese officials and reports highlighting that this number, at 100,000 before the new policy was enacted, has been halved in the following 10 years. Portugal's drug usage rates are now among the lowest of EU member states, according to the same report.

 

One more outcome: a lot less sick people. Drug related diseases including STDs and overdoses have been reduced even more than usage rates, which experts believe is the result of the government offering treatment with no threat of legal ramifications to addicts.

 

While this policy is by no means news, the statistics and figures, which take years to develop and subsequently depict the effects of the change, seem to be worth noting. In a country like America, which may take the philosophy of criminalization a bit far (more than half of America's federal inmates are in prison on drug convictions), other alternatives must, and to a small degree, are being discussed.

 

For policymakers or people simply interested in this topic, cases like Portugal are a great place to start.

 

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/120718/drug-decriminalization-portugal-addicts

[totava]

Parece que é sempre na mesma altura do ano que começam a aparecer estas notícias sobre a descriminalização, mas fico muito contente por ver, até porque o meu pai fez parte do grupo que fez com que isto se tornasse lei :happy: .

[patanas]

O BE vai apresentar agora uma proposta para poder ter 10 plantas e a criação dos social clubs que já existem em espanha mesmo aqui ao lado. Que passe uma das duas pelo menos.

[Gaberlunzie]

Já sabemos isto crlo! E escusam de tentar levar isto para outros países, muito menos para os States, isso nunca vai acontecer.

 

Quanto a ter umas plantas em casa, era bom que fosse legal, era...

[Lica']

Que tomem todos uma dose de cavalo.

[frederico.dr]

U dont say?

[lastdance]

O BE vai apresentar agora uma proposta para poder ter 10 plantas e a criação dos social clubs que já existem em espanha mesmo aqui ao lado. Que passe uma das duas pelo menos.

Deve ser. Mais 20 anos e pode ser que tenhas sorte.

[The Rev]

"O fruto proibido é o mais apetecido"

[Rui Cardoso]

Colorado Sells $34 Million Of Cannabis: $3.4 Million Goes To Schools, Crime Down 15%

In 2012, Colorado and Washington state legalized the recreational use of marijuana, much to the dismay of anti-pot advocates. They frequently alleged that it would make it easier for children to acquire, that more people would use it, that there would be more people driving while high, and that it would be an all around bad deal for these states.

 

In Colorado, it’s safe to say that the doomsayers were 100% wrong. Sales of recreational marijuana continue to rise with more than $34 million worth sold in August alone. That means that the state raised $3.4 million for building and maintaining schools in the state. At the rate the state is going, some $30 million will be brought in from pot taxes alone. That’s some serious dough!

 

Even better, crime has suddenly and sharply dropped in the state, providing evidence that clearly counters the idea that crime would rise with the plant’s legalization. Overall crime has dropped by 15%, and murder is down by nearly half. The government is planning to allocate some of the state tax money from pot to improving infrastructure and employing more people, even now as the unemployment rate continues to drop.

 

Right now, there are 100 legal dispensaries in Colorado. Could they really be doing any more harm than the numerous bars? At the end of the day, you have to acknowledge: legal weed has not been harmful to Colorado, but rather, it looks like things in the Centennial State will only improve.

 

Read more at http://higherperspective.com/2014/12/colorado.html#A23PfWGcZo7MlmrK.99

[Solero]

chega de hipocrisia legalizem a maria

[Visitante]

Se taxassem isso era uma receita suplementar, é todo um mercado de milhões que o governo não ganha nem um centimo, é o perfeito exemplo que temos no governo quem sabe gerir claramente.

[Jota F]

Se taxassem isso era uma receita suplementar, é todo um mercado de milhões que o governo não ganha nem um centimo, é o perfeito exemplo que temos no governo quem sabe gerir claramente.

Depende muito dos efeitos secundários.

[Stout]

Se taxassem isso era uma receita suplementar, é todo um mercado de milhões que o governo não ganha nem um centimo, é o perfeito exemplo que temos no governo quem sabe gerir claramente.

 

Wot? Tenho quase a certeza que o Passos na J era legalize. Não é incapacidade, são interesses...

 

Depende muito dos efeitos secundários.

 

Quais efeitos secundários?

[antifa]

clubes de consumo, para ontem crl!

[Resende93]

O Passos Coelho bem como toda essa ala no PSD é a favor da legalização.

[FMplayerslayer]

O Passos Coelho bem como toda essa ala no PSD é a favor da legalização.

Eles são a favor de quem lhes meter o dinheiro no cu e como o Bob Marley já morreu, mas as Unicers/APBE et'cs continuam a existir e a dar tachos e guito para campanhas.

[G1njas]

Se não me engano o consumo de drogas já tinha vindo a baixar antes desta medida, e também baixou noutros países durante o mesmo período. Esses números devem ser analisados com mais atenção.

 

Seja como for, foi uma boa medida, e também acho que devia legalizar-se e começar a taxar.

[The Great Ashby]

Drogas leves e prostituição. Era da maneira que o estado fazia algum dinheiro e algumas situações eram evitadas.