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 U.S.), reports Fox News.
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4 comments:
Sounds like the same fears the U.S. gov't espouses are dispelled here.
It's totally legal to use mind altering drugs here as long as you buy them at the pharmacy. Seems like everyone and their brothers are on some kind of anti-depressant, or pills for this or that.
I can tell you from experience that the mind altering drugs my DR prescribed for depression did more damage to my brain in months than all of the drugs I did in 70's and 80's combined.
So many people are on all kinds of legal drugs and are functioning in the work place, on our roads and is very scary.
It is true that marijuana leads to harder drugs, it lead me to smoking cigarettes and alcohol abuse.
So you are telling me that you smoked weed first then cigarettes and then drink alcohol? Buddy you started of bass ackwards. guess I don't have to say anymore about you now
It's only been 11 yrs. Wait awhile. Portugal will be changing these laws as did the Netherlands. These liberal drug policies led to increased drug trafficking and other related crimes common to drug use and abuse. They are slowly closing down the cannibis shops in Rotterdam that are close to schools and more will close that tourist frequent due to the influx of foreigners (addicts) overstaying visas and causing an economic strain on the Netherlands.
Sounds good in theory but never works.
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