Is Portugal's Liberal Drug Policy a Model for US?

slimvictor

slimvictor

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"Darkness cannot be dissipated with more darkness.
LISBON, Portugal (Aug. 14) -- Ten years ago, Portugal had some 100,000 heroin addicts -- about 1 percent of its entire population. HIV infections from injecting drugs were among the highest in Europe.

Now the addict count has been cut nearly in half. HIV infections from drug use have fallen more than 90 percent. And the policy shift responsible for such a dramatic improvement in Portuguese life is something U.S. lawmakers -- watching an escalating drug war on their southern border -- might consider worthy of some attention: decriminalization.

Ten years ago this summer, Portugal became the first country in Europe to decriminalize all illegal drugs -- marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and even heroin. Hefty fines and prison sentences still await drug traffickers and dealers, but users caught with less than a 10-day supply of any drug are no longer considered criminals. Instead, they're referred to a panel comprised of a drug-treatment specialist, a lawyer and a civil servant, who usually recommend treatment -- and pay for it, too. If the users decline treatment and go back to abusing drugs, that's their prerogative.

continued here: http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/is-portugals-liberal-drug-policy-a-model-for-us/19591395
 
This got me particularly excited:

Within parts of Europe, Portugal's liberal drug policy has become a model for other nations. Spain and Italy have both dramatically reduced penalties for drug possession, and the Norwegian government sent two delegates to Portugal in May to study the local strategy. Denmark is also weighing whether to decriminalize drugs.
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Great find, slimvictor

These are all very good bits of possible progress clearly in the right direction.
 
I am sure this won't come to pass any time soon, if ever at all, in the U.S but the fact that other countries are practicing it with success gives me hope, and affirms that I am not just leaning towards this because I like drugs, but because it ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE. Thanks for posting this.
 
So I am wondering now if Portugal would be a good drug tourism spot, like I have heard Prague has become since they decriminalized small amounts. Have the new laws created a larger number of street dealers?
 
Our drug policies wont dramaticly change untill the line-up of the people in our government dramaticly change.
 
Denmark is also weighing whether to decriminalize drugs.
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This is not going to happen with the semi-fascist government we have at the moment...
 
"Honestly, the way the policy might work is by taking the kick out of drugs," he said. "Why do it if you don't have that thrill of it being bad?"
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i liked this part haha

but like the article said, the US makes too much money off locking up drug addicts. the US still thinks that it has the perfect system and to be "soft on crime" would be the ultimate disgrace
 
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