Portugal and recreational drugs

[Blind groper]

http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years ... -happening

Portugal decriminalised all drugs, including heroin and cocaine in 2001.

The result has been a drop in drug related deaths, overall rates of drug use, money spent on drug treatment, number of people put in prison, and money spent on criminal prosecutions.

It was not a 100% cure for drug problems, but we have to be realistic. But it seems to have been a major step forward.

How do you think your country compares?

[JimC]

The article had no information that I could see about prison rates. Obviously, there would be a fall simply because they are no longer jailing drug users, but one would hope that it also damaged the income of criminal gangs, as well as perhaps reducing the number of robberies committed by desperate addicts.

[Sælir]

I think this is the way to go. I have read a bit about it since there was one party that had exactly this on their agenda (they did not get enough people in unfortunately).

[Hermit]

[mistermack]

I think they should go the whole hog, and start manufacturing and selling the drugs.

Take them out of the hands of criminals, and put the warnings on the packets like fags.

That way, the profits go to the country, and they can control the price and quality.
So long as they priced them at the average street price of the same drugs in Spain, there would be no incentive for smuggling.

[Sean Hayden]

The US war on drugs has failed. Drugs are easy to get and cheap. Then there's the harm it's done...

[Pappa]

Reminds me of a Jonathan Ott quote, "The prohibition experiment of the 20th century has failed."

And it has, by pretty much any measure you choose.