'decriminalisation does not lead to increase in drug use' richard branson

[kakucho makku]

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/decriminalising-drug-possession

As part of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we have consistently called for countries to experiment with new approaches to tackling drugs.

Now new research from Release, a UK drug policy organisation, illustrates how countries that have already taken the brave step of changing their drugs policies are not experiencing adverse effects.

The study (A Quiet Revolution: Drug Decriminalisation Policies in Practice across the Globe) reviews the evidence in 21 countries that have adopted some form of decriminalisation, from the Netherlands to Estonia, Australia to Mexico, Uruguay to Portugal.

The report states: “The harms of criminalisation far outweigh those of decriminalisation. Decriminalisation does appear to direct more drug users into treatment, reduce criminal justice costs, and shield many drug users from the devastating impact of a criminal conviction.

“A decriminalisation approach coupled with investment in harm reduction and treatment services can have a positive impact on both individual drug users and society as a whole.”

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/decriminalising-drug-possession

 

[Crankinit]

As I said in the comments section, Richard Branson's constant harping about decriminalization feels like a cop out. The man has how many millions of dollars? If he seriously wanted to see drugs decriminalized, he'd take those stats and run them in an ad campaign educating voters. For progress to be made on this issue politicians need to be given permission to come out and admit that the drug war isn't working, and right now it's still too close to political suicide.