Decriminalization of drugs in Portugal led to reduction in addiction.

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   NateB11posted 11 years ago

   Because instead of punishing people for drug use, they helped them with treatment programs. Should the US, where most people are in prison for drug offenses, adopt the same decriminalization policy?

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      christin53posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree drug users need help not punishment it's the people who supply the drugs who should get very harsh sentences.

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      Dr Billy Kiddposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Goog question. The model was establishedd in Holland. 40 years ago the police just started telling people to move on, "Not on my beat." Then, the government sponsored Dope Busses, that brought drugs to the addicts. The addiction rate to heroin dropped in half. I"ve been there, drugs are a non issue except for drug tourists.
      
      Portugal found that cases of new HIV infection dropped after heroin was decriminalized. Dealers still go to jail. Addiction dropped off and it did not become a drug mecca.That's because there's treatment required for users, and jail time for dealers. Hollard has just said 'forget it."
      
      Spain in on the road to legalization.
      
      The U.S. is not quite as civilized as these countries. There would be a 1960s drug craze if legaliation were put into effect. After a few years, and an huge increase in homelessness and insane people jamming up the streets, there would be a decline in uise, like in the 1980s.
      
      I'm for state sales and taxing of marijuana, heroin and cocaine. Look what the high tax did to cigarette use. But the U.S. is more into guns and war than solving social issues, so all people can do is argue for a tax on Marijuana at this point in time.

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   NateB11posted 11 years ago

   Yes, absolutely. Seems punishment of drug users makes the problem worse, worsens their lives and costs society an awful lot; and Portugal has provided a successful alternative. In the end, Portugal seems to have found a way to actually solve the problem and not exacerbate it. Of course, also taking away the suppliers' customers (by rehabilitating them) is also a more positive solution.

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   rickyliceaposted 11 years ago

   I don't think that we should punish users or consumers, the market will provide whatever is in demand and that's just how it is.
   I read an article about in the New Yorker, and nothing bad happened after legalization.
   It's just fear mongering from interested groups and wanna-be nannies. Adults should be able to do what ever they want.
   http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011 … ct_specter

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   NateB11posted 11 years ago

   Yes, I agree. I don't know why they think they should or can control people and tell them what they can or can't do. Good article, thanks.

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   knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

   "U.S. is more into guns and war than solving social issues," Illegal drugs are another way of controlling people.

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      Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      +1. And  illegal drug users who commit offences are highly profitable for the likes of G4S!

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         Dr Billy Kiddposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         G4S. the global securit firm, will make millions off the murders in Colorado. Good point. People in Congress are of another class, and they don't get to see the end of the barrel of a gun they way common folks do.

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            Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I once worked in a prison run by the state, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. My job also ensured that I visited prisoners in private prisons, run by G4S, nonetheless. The two were incomparable. Now, G4s not only have the massive Olympics project, but have also won contracts for welfare to work and working with troubled families in very deprived areas, such as Salford. I dread to think what the outcome might be....

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   NateB11posted 11 years ago

   Fascinating stuff, Billy. I watched a documentary about Holland and agree they are much more enlightened, generally, and specifically about this issue than the US. I absolutely agree the US is more interested in war, putting money into that, not to mention making the prison system a business backed by the government. I also agree drugs would not be a problem in this country except for the fact that they are illegal. Making them illegal creates more violence and misery.

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   knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

   Hello Hollie. Are you going to attend the Olympics?

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      Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Knolyourself, me thinks not...you said Olympics and you don't have a licence. We're all Palestinians now.

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   knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

   What you saying? You need a license to attend the Olympics?

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      Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No. But you do need to be an Olympic sponsor to use the words "Olympics, summer, gold, silver and bronze" when marketing your products, Oh, and if you're in the catering trade you have to sell "chips" with another product such as a hamburger and fries, because Mc'Cs have the monopoly on the word "chips"
      
      http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho … 45436.html
      
      1984???

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   knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

   The Oxxxxxpics originally was for amateurs. Amateurs are against the law since the last one in the eighties named 'Eagle Eddie'. Now it is just a corporate extravaganza for professionals, to pile up  those propaganda metals. I will probably watch some of it anyway.

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      Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Cool. There's nothing wrong with enjoying sports. It's just got all a bit too corporate and frankly stupid for me, but I'll still support all those who've come from afar and worked really hard to get here. Won't be buying Mc's though...mind you never did.

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    knolyourselfposted 11 years ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxfm5-zRHo

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       Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       And the good news is.....http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/01/mervyn-king-bank-of-england

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    Mighty Momposted 11 years ago

    Don't seem to be any dissenters in this bunch.
    You've all nailed the reasons why the US won't decriminalize drugs.
    Less civilized is a polite way of putting it!
    
    The other obvious one being Big Pharma controlling the "feel good/feel better" supply through the medical system. They won't tolerate competition!
    We all know addicts are not deterred by criminal prosecution or threat of prosecution.
    Incarceration without treatment is a waste of taxpayer money.

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       NateB11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Exactly. And I didn't think of mentioning the pharmaceutical companies, paying doctors to sell their drugs, experimenting on the population (I don't know about literally, but it's the way it turns out), keeping kids on Prozac and Ritalin and then wondering why there's school shootings, damaging people's brains and zoning them out; and the list goes on as far as that subject goes. I'm sure the pill pushers don't want people using medical marijuana unless they can find a way to corner the market.

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          Mighty Momposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Exactly.
          However, currently there is a lot of abuse in the medical marijuana system. Not because there's anything wrong or bad about using marijuana medicinally.
          But because it's illegal and people are so desperate to obtain it without risking going to prison that they end up scamming and abusing the Medican system.
          Yet alcohol is advertised on billboards and tv....
          As are way too many of Big Pharma's goodies.
          
          Imagine what all these cash-strapped states and cities could do with the sales tax on MJ.

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             NateB11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

             As far as medical marijuana goes, I've seen a lot of people abuse it and become lifeless and claim they are using it for medicinal purposes; I don't really think most drugs, including marijuana, are necessary, except in some relatively extreme cases like terminal illness, etc. But I still don't know why any of it's illegal and I also, as you say, can't believe they'd advertise alcohol and push pills, both of which kill and damage a lot of people.

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