United Nations Applauds Portugal's Drug Decriminilization

tokin'

Tokin’

Concerned with health issues such as increases in HIV and drug overdoses, in 2001 Portugal decriminalized the possession of small amounts of street drugs–not just marijuana but heroin, LSD, etc. At the time the United Nations expressed skepticism that this would work.   There was a fear that there would be an increase in drug tourism and drug use. However, according to a report recently released by the Cato Institute, “[Now] there is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. More significantly, none of the nightmare scenarios touted by preenactment decriminalization opponents — from rampant increases in drug usage among the young to the transformation of Lisbon into a haven for “drug tourists” — has occurred..”

Just a few hours ago, a new report from the United Nations declares, “Portugal’s policy has reportedly not led to an increase in drug tourism…”It also appears that a number of drug-related problems have decreased.”

The Cahto Institute’s report explains that five years after the implementation of decriminialization, “…the number of deaths from street drug overdoses dropped from around 400 to 290 annually, and the number of new HIV cases caused by using dirty needles to inject heroin, cocaine and other illegal substances plummeted from nearly 1,400 in 2000 to about 400 in 2006.”

Common sense is now backed by hard facts.  Let’s stop the violence and the wasted lives.  Let’s decriminialize drug use.

_______________________

Hat Tip to

Olmanriver

Huffington Post

The Scientific American

See Also As it Stands

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22 Comments
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bluelaker4
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bluelaker4
14 years ago

I just read in the paper this week that marijuana has been linked to cancer, just as regular cigarettes. So I guess like many legal drugs, it has more than one down side.

huh?
Guest
huh?
14 years ago
Reply to  bluelaker4

huh? linked in what way? a newspaper? which one? how was the study conducted? hearsay?

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
14 years ago
Reply to  huh?

It was in the Eureka Times-Standard this week. I don’t recall which day. I’ve had so much going on this week that I don’t recall for sure, but I think it was linked to lung cancer.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  bluelaker4

I’ve read about the link to testicular cancer. but most studies show a link between cancer resistance and marijuana–see here and here.

Mr. Nice
Guest
Mr. Nice
14 years ago
Reply to  bluelaker4

It’s not “marijuana” that’s linked to cancer, it’s marijuana smoke. Smoking sucks anyway. I’m not about to pay $30-$40 for something just to waste half of it by burning it.

suzy blah blah
Guest
suzy blah blah
14 years ago
Reply to  Mr. Nice

you dont buy any chance sell vaporizers do you Mr N?

Mr. Nice
Guest
Mr. Nice
14 years ago
Reply to  suzy blah blah

No. Do you think I would make many sales if I did? The good one sells itself anyway.

dave
Guest
14 years ago

The issue of marijuana legalization is gaining ground every day in this country. I believe it won’t be long before every state legalizes pot to some degree.

That time isn’t that far off. Portugal points the way currently. The medicinal use of pot has gained a lot of ground. People are starting to see there’s more that just the medicinal use. Hemp has a whole slew of applications that can lead to manufacturing in the USA of numerous products.

Good post Kym…

dave
Guest
14 years ago

The issue of marijuana legalization is gaining ground every day in this country. I believe it won’t be long before every state legalizes pot to some degree.

That time isn’t that far off. Portugal points the way currently. The medicinal use of pot has gained a lot of ground. People are starting to see there’s more that just the medicinal use. Hemp has a whole slew of applications that can lead to manufacturing in the USA of numerous products.

Good post Kym…

rvewong
Guest
14 years ago

How long do you think it will be before pot is legal?

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago
Reply to  rvewong

Ten to twenty years… We haven’t seen the backlash yet.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  rvewong

I think Ben is wrong. I think it will be sooner–around 5?

rvewong
Guest
14 years ago

How long do you think it will be before pot is legal?

Ben
Guest
Ben
14 years ago
Reply to  rvewong

Ten to twenty years… We haven’t seen the backlash yet.

Staff
Member
14 years ago
Reply to  rvewong

I think Ben is wrong. I think it will be sooner–around 5?

Kitty
Guest
14 years ago

Totally agree with you on this Kym.

I didn’t know that about Portugal.

Kitty
Guest
14 years ago

Totally agree with you on this Kym.

I didn’t know that about Portugal.