Thursday, July 19, 2012

Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs Eleven Years Ago And The Results Are Staggering

The why and the where escapes me, but I mentioned Portugal's decriminalising of all recreational drugs, not some few days ago.

But given that: In a country like America, which may take the philosophy of criminalization a bit far (more than half of America's federal inmates are in prison on drug convictions) I do have to say, nobody, anywhere in the world should be in jail for simple possession of any drug.

And if we are going to philosophise a spell, what right, in a country that purports to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people, does the establishment have to lock people up in such vast numbers, often for obscene lengths of time, sometimes for even life.

Philosophising further, one our one blessed experience of having a life on this planet, what right has anybody, individual or government, to dictate what a person might, or might not, experience on his or her journey through this unique and never repeatable existence. (See clips below)

That said, methinks a few 'toons are in order on a post such as this.



Portuguese moggies.


Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs Eleven Years Ago And The Results Are Staggering
Samuel Blackstone
July 17, 2012

On July 1st, 2001, Portugal decriminalized every imaginable drug, from marijuana, to cocaine, to heroin. Some thought Lisbon would become a drug tourist haven, others predicted usage rates among youths to surge.

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.


Still bearing their original title, Killer Cannabis, one could almost believe these were the work of the Daily Mail, where one toke will turn you into a paranoid shambling wreck. 1 - 2 - 3 Or failing that, it will definitely give you cancer.

The resulting effect: a drastic reduction in addicts, with Portuguese officials and reports highlighting that this number, at 100,000 before the new policy was enacted, has been halved in the following ten years. Portugal's drug usage rates are now among the lowest of EU member states, according to the same report.

One more outcome: a lot less sick people. Drug related diseases including STDs and overdoses have been reduced even more than usage rates, which experts believe is the result of the government offering treatment with no threat of legal ramifications to addicts.



While this policy is by no means news, the statistics and figures, which take years to develop and subsequently depict the effects of the change, seem to be worth noting. In a country like America, which may take the philosophy of criminalization a bit far (more than half of America's federal inmates are in prison on drug convictions), other alternatives must, and to a small degree, are being discussed.

For policymakers or people simply interested in this topic, cases like Portugal are a great place to start. businessinsider.com

Related: Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work? Time Science











Words From The Grave: Aldous Huxley Thirty minute interview between Mike Wallace and Aldous Huxley 1958. And if you think George Orwell was a prophet, you really should watch this.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pop quiz: Which European country has the most liberal drug laws? (Hint: It's not the Netherlands.)

http://www.time.com/time/health/
article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

"But given that: In a country like America, which may take the philosophy of criminalization a bit far (more than half of America's federal inmates are in prison on drug convictions) I do have to say, nobody, anywhere in the world should be in jail for simple possession of any drug."

I totally agree Himself.

Kind regards from the Netherlands.

Himself said...

Thanks Maren, link added.

Accepted most graciously.

Anonymous said...

Portugal was also the first EU country to abolish the death penalty: "Portugal was one of the first countries in the world to abolish the death penalty, abolishing it for political crimes in 1852, for all crimes except the military in 1867, and for all crimes in 1911." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Portugal
http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/schedastato.php?idstato=16000383

And another fact: "Portugal was the first country in Europe to abolish slavery, at least in its European territory. This was done by a decree issued in February 12, 1761 by the prime minister, the Marquis of Pombal." http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/american_connection/slavery/timeline.shtml

Himself said...

Portugal was the first country in Europe to abolish slavery, at least in its European territory

Quite possibly because they were the first to introduce it to Europe.

Things to do!

Later

Anonymous said...

Why we are calling for an end to the war on drugs.

We're stuck in a pointless "war on drugs". It's not working and it costs us heavily, in human terms – with people addicted, incarcerated and burgled – and in financial terms. The UK spends more on drug policy than any other country in Europe, but has the highest usage of several class A drugs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/10/end-war-on-drugs?CMP=twt_gu

Himself said...

Mornin' m'darlin' I left you a link on the Catholic debate post.

Himself said...

but has the highest usage of several class A drugs.

Yes, we're all a bunch of heads.

And a royal commission would make recommendations that the government could not just ignore.

No we don't like those, far better a report that we can totally ignore. (Leveson)

David Cameron recognised the need for change before he became Tory leader, voting for a report detailing how "drugs policy has been failing for decades".

Why does that sound so terribly familiar? And I don't just mean Obama.

We plebs have been promised so many brave new worlds by so many pols that I've lost count.

Anonymous said...

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/04/utrecht_hopes_to_set_up_cannab.php

Anonymous said...

http://bit.ly/19RFNUB

Anonymous said...

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/07/suriname_wants_dutch_compensat.php

Anonymous said...

10/10/13

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/richard-branson-government-shutdown-98136.html

Himself said...

Ah so, I've just opened this one.

Yes all well and good I suppose.

But hasn't Branson got a finger in the medical pie?

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j92-RbmvMA