Portugal's drug decriminalization aftermath

[tolu]

Holland has never actually legalized cannabis — the Dutch simply don't enforce their laws against the shops. The correct answer is Portugal, which in 2001 became the first European country to officially abolish all criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine

"Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does."

Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive.

... there is a movement afoot in the U.S., in the legislatures of New York State, California and Massachusetts, to reconsider our overly punitive drug laws. Recently, Senators Jim Webb and Arlen Specter proposed that Congress create a national commission, not unlike Portugal's, to deal with prison reform and overhaul drug-sentencing policy.

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

 

[970Codfert]

One step at a time

 

[Entheojen]

I've had a quick look online but didn't see the answer popping up anywhere in the time I had.

Does anyone know of, or where to find a list of the maximum allowed statutory weight limits for each drug and/or DMT?

I think this is a very sensible drug policy, it targets the traffickers, but more or less leaves alone recreational users.

Thanks!

 

[Shaolin]

I've had a quick look online but didn't see the answer popping up anywhere in the time I had.

Does anyone know of, or where to find a list of the maximum allowed statutory weight limits for each drug and/or DMT?

I think this is a very sensible drug policy, it targets the traffickers, but more or less leaves alone recreational users.

Thanks!

"They decriminalized all drugs for personal use (which they defined as a 10 day supply)"

I think only Czech Republic has defined "personal usage" in quantity terms. EDIT: And Mexico.

You could try contacting harm reduction groups in Portugal. I believe, if the answer exists, they will have it.

Mexico
_______________________
Marijuana: 5g
Cocaine: 0.5g
Heroin 0.05g (50 miligrams)
Meth: 0.5g
LSD: 0.015 milligrams (15 micrograms)


Czech Republic
_______________________
Marijuana: 15g
Cocaine: 1g
Heroin: 0.5g
Amphetamine: 2g
Ecstasy: 4 pills

 

[DoingKermit]

I know this is an old thread, but i just read in an article about the success from the decriminalisation of drugs in Portugal 10 years since it was put into place. The results state that there is: "decreased youth drug use, less overdoses, HIV/AIDS rates are down, less crime, reduced criminal justice expenditures, greater access to drug treatment, and safer and healthier communities."

Full article here: http://www.alternet.org/world/15154...sary_of_decriminalizing_drugs_by_tony_newman/

 

[christian]

Just goes to show that when Governments allow adults the freedom to enjoy themselves without fear of persecution that it can actually work out fine for everyone involved. All it takes is understanding that humans have always had an interest in altering their mindstates, and once this is accepted it's usually fine. 8)