Portugal’s Example: What Happened After It Decriminalized All Drugs, - Weed to Heroin

[Bigdog]

"April 19, 2016 | 3:05 pm
As diplomats gather at the United Nations in New York this week to consider the future of global drug policy, one Portuguese official, João Goulão, will likely command attention that far outstrips his country's influence in practically any other area. That's because 16 years ago, Portugal took a leap and decriminalized the possession of all drugs — everything from marijuana to heroin. By most measures, the move has paid off.

Today, Portuguese authorities don't arrest anyone found holding what's considered less than a 10-day supply of an illicit drug — a gram of heroin, ecstasy, or amphetamine, two grams of cocaine, or 25 grams of cannabis. Instead, drug offenders receive a citation and are ordered to appear before so- called "dissuasion panels" made up of legal, social, and psychological experts. Most cases are simply suspended. Individuals who repeatedly come before the panels may be prescribed treatment, ranging from motivational counseling to opiate substitution therapy.

"We had a lot of criticism at first," recalled Goulão, a physician specializing in addiction treatment whose work led Portugal to reform its drug laws in 2000, and who is today its national drug coordinator. After decriminalizing, the first inquiries Portugal received from the International Narcotics Control Board — the quasi-judicial UN oversight body established by the UN drug convention system — were sharp and scolding.

"Now things have changed completely," he went on. "We are pointed to as an example of best practices inside the spirit of the conventions." Indeed, Werner Sipp, the new head of the board, said as much at the UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna earlier this year.

'It was the combination of the law and these services that made it a success. It's very difficult to find people in Portugal who disagree with this model.'
Though often narrowly assessed in reference to its decriminalization law, Portugal's experience over the last decade and a half speaks as much to its free public health system, extensive treatment programs, and the hard to quantify trickle down effects of the legislation. In a society where drugs are less stigmatized, problem users are more likely to seek out care. Police, even if they suspect someone of using drugs, are less likely to bother them. Though at least 25 countries have introduced some form of decriminalization, Portugal's holistic model and its use of dissuasion panels sets it apart.

The rate of new HIV infections in Portugal has fallen precipitously since 2001, ... "

https://news.vice.com/article/ungass...weed-to-heroin

[Bigdog]

Hello ... is this thing on?

[dukkha]

Portugal is Enlightened.

[Nordberg]

They are saving a fortune in court costs, policing and jailing.

[TrippyHippy]

The war on drugs not only failed, it made the problem so much worse. It's time for the U.S to follow Portugal's example. Especially as our country is devastated by the opioid crisis.

[Bigdog]

Portugal is Enlightened.

Seems it has gotten the U.N. 's stamp of approval.

"After decriminalizing, the first inquiries Portugal received from the International Narcotics Control Board — the quasi-judicial UN oversight body established by the UN drug convention system — were sharp and scolding.

"Now things have changed completely," he went on. "We are pointed to as an example of best practices inside the spirit of the conventions." Indeed, Werner Sipp, the new head of the board, said as much at the UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna earlier this year."

[Bigdog]

It's about time our congress and senate start studying Portugal's example.

[PostmodernProphet]

I don't know why we are fighting this......
step 1) legalize all drugs
step 2) institutionalize all addicts
step 3) take away voting rights for everyone institutionalized
step 4) watch liberalism make itself irrelevant......

[dukkha]

Seems it has gotten the U.N. 's stamp of approval.

of course..the problems associated because drugs are illegal make treatment more difficult,
as well as societal harm because of addicts needs for cash

[Text Drivers are Killers]

And drugged driving crashes exploded.

[Bigdog]

And drugged driving crashes exploded.

Don't let facts get in the way, Ship'em back to Africa Boy.

Bet you're a big fan of bringing back Prohibition as well. That was such a success

"(Portugal ) In 2016 we had a quarter of the fatalities we had 20 years ago, ...

... Portugal has seen a reduction of almost 40 percent in road deaths since 2010, excluding the negative performance recorded in 2017."

http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/...nce-more/44427

[CFM]

The war on drugs not only failed, it made the problem so much worse. It's time for the U.S to follow Portugal's example. Especially as our country is devastated by the opioid crisis.

So you support legalizing meth, heroine, cocaine, and other drugs of the same type?

[Bigdog]

So you support legalizing meth, heroine, cocaine, and other drugs of the same type?

Portugal's 16 year long experiment has worked out a lot better than Prohibition did.

Apparently, there are a lot of addicts that want medical help, and decriminalization gives them access to that help.

And all those "banned drugs" are already available to anyone that wants them bad enough ... especially if you're in high school or college.

[CFM]

Portugal's 16 year long experiment has worked out a lot better than Prohibition did.

Apparently, there are a lot of addicts that want medical help, and decriminalization gives them access to that help.

And all those "banned drugs" are already available to anyone that wants them bad enough ... especially if you're in high school or college.

Who pays for the help?

Let them have those drugs and use them every day. It will solve the problem. The smart ones will figure it out and the dumb ones we won't have to worry about anymore.

[TrippyHippy]

So you support legalizing meth, heroine, cocaine, and other drugs of the same type?

Decriminalization, not retail legalization like we see with cannabis. I think we should treat hard drugs as a public health issue.