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Friday, July 03, 2009
The Portuguese Solution
For a backward country, they're pretty far ahead of us:
While other states in the European Union have developed various forms of de facto decriminalization — whereby substances perceived to be less serious (such as cannabis) rarely lead to criminal prosecution — Portugal remains the only EU member state with a law explicitly declaring drugs to be "decriminalized." Because more than seven years have now elapsed since enactment of Portugal's decriminalization system, there are ample data enabling its effects to be assessed.
Notably, decriminalization has become increasingly popular in Portugal since 2001. Except for some far-right politicians, very few domestic political factions are agitating for a repeal of the 2001 law. And while there is a widespread perception that bureaucratic changes need to be made to Portugal's decriminalization framework to make it more efficient and effective, 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.
Posted by PUBLIUS on July 3, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
How has this gone over with the other European countries, particularly Spain? Since Portugal is a member of the Schengen area, there are no borders or passport controls.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-07-03 7:21:52 AM
Here comes another blog entry with at least 100 comments by the three stooges.
Posted by: DrGreenthumb | 2009-07-03 7:24:08 AM
Thanks for the great example Publius.
Posted by: Charles | 2009-07-03 8:02:19 AM
DrGreenthumb, I was thinking the same thing.
Posted by: TM | 2009-07-03 8:23:16 AM
It looks like some people are very bitter at having their delusions questioned.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-07-03 8:46:14 AM
Pike, that's actually funny.
Posted by: TM | 2009-07-03 9:32:30 AM
LOL here we go again. To soon after the last one for me, refer to the last blog about Marc Emery and save your keyboards. I doubt anyone has changed thier minds.
Posted by: Steve Bottrell | 2009-07-03 2:15:35 PM
"For a backward country, they're pretty far ahead of us"
They? Us? For context, Publius is a leukophobic Portuguese Marrano and is welcome to go back to the country with the lowest GDP per capita in Western Europe (and a shocking hostility toward literacy) at his earliest convenience.
"Of course the central problem for Canadian policy makers seeking to end the Drug War is the Americans."
There is no drug war in Canada. Out of 195-odd countries on this planet Canada ranks approximately 195th in the severity of its drug laws. You get more time in jail in Italy, or Thailand, or St. Lucia for possessing a joint than you do in Canada for running a million dollar grow-op.
You are a profoundly ignorant man Publius; please, shut up!
Posted by: You People Are A Joke | 2009-07-04 8:25:31 PM
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