I came across this very informative presentation summarising a report on Portugal's recent experience with the decriminalisation of all drugs.

"Portugal began a remarkable policy experiment, decriminalizing all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Some predicted disastrous results-that drug addiction rates would soar and the country would become a haven for "drug tourists." Now that several years have passed, policy experts can study the results. In a new paper for the Cato Institute, attorney and author Glenn Greenwald closely examines the Portugal experiment and concludes that the doomsayers were wrong. There is now a widespread consensus in Portugal that decriminalization has been a success."

Featuring Glenn Greenwald, Attorney and Best-selling Author; with comments by Peter Reuter, Department of Criminology, University of Maryland; moderated by Tim Lynch, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute.In 2001,

This is probably one of the most important and valuable reports related to drug policy in a very long time - send the links to your representative .

A video and mp3 of the presentation can be found here:

http://cato.org/event.php?eventid=5887

The full report in PDF format can be found here:

http://cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080

Quote:

The political consensus in favor of decriminalization is unsurprising in light of the relevant empirical data. Those data indicate that decriminalization has had no adverse effect on drug usage rates in Portugal, which, in numerous categories, are now among the lowest in the EU, particularly when compared with states with stringent criminalization regimes. Although postdecriminalization usage rates have remained roughly the same or even decreased slightly when compared with other EU states, drug-related pathologies — such as sexually transmitted diseases and deaths due to drug usage — have decreased dramatically. Drug policy experts attribute those positive trends to the enhanced ability of the Portuguese government to offer treatment programs to its citizens — enhancements made possible, for numerous reasons, by decriminalization.

This is interesting, although it's a hard argument.  You can see why decriminalisation would work in many basic areas.  The Australian Greens have been advocating this for years - not for drugs to be made legal, but just decriminalised in order for the addicts to get the drugs they need legally in conjunction with treatment programs.

Our government would put this in the too hard basket.  Many would look at how alcohol has become the number 1 killer, and by decriminalising drugs - they could end up in first place.

We rarely hear about drug statistics through our media these days.  There used to always be some anti-drugs campaign going.  We don't know how many people are dying of Aids in Australia nor how bad the drug scene really is anymore.

I'll send those links off to the Greens representative in my area.

satrangealliance - good posting - thanks.

Does this article include the resources wasted on drug policing ?
Or the division between social drug takers and "society" by some drugs being illegal?
Or the river of money given to criminals by some drugs being illegal?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Apr 8^th, 2009 at 9:15pm:

Does this article include the resources wasted on drug policing ? Or the division between social drug takers and "society" by some drugs being illegal? Or the river of money given to criminals by some drugs being illegal?

Yes to all  - watch the video or download the mp3 - it is well worth it

cheers

Yes it is a good video, and a common sense approach to take.
We have always known that prohibition introduces more problems than it fixes.

I hope I live long enough to see a sensible approach to drugs implemented in australia.

Unfortunately the ignorance of the politicians goes on unabated, and until the policies of people like the greens, get a fairer hearing from the parliament, we have nothing but more ignorant band-aid solutions to look forward to.

A few more brochures, or 'just say NO' badges, will surely work if we try them again?

mozzaok wrote on Apr 11^th, 2009 at 5:42pm:

Yes it is a good video, and a common sense approach to take. We have always known that prohibition introduces more problems than it fixes. I hope I live long enough to see a sensible approach to drugs implemented in australia. Unfortunately the ignorance of the politicians goes on unabated, and until the policies of people like the greens, get a fairer hearing from the parliament, we have nothing but more ignorant band-aid solutions to look forward to. A few more brochures, or 'just say NO' badges, will surely work if we try them again?

Decriminalisation is a lot different to legalisation and making them easily available.

Which is what you suggested for ice.

Idiot.

abolition and "just say no" badges have not worked for decades.

What's say we try another approach ?
That'ld seem sensible to me

Nearly all drugs should be legal, controlled and taxed.

the substances in question are not legal because:

of cigarette and alcohol companies putting pressure on gov't.

these ppl stand to loose the most.

the public can only win, if everything were legal.

doesn't really matter, as most are growin 'their own, or are in a network of supply.

i really enjoy goin' to a curry cafe stoned and gettin' higher on the great food.
yummy.

jr.

thanx for sharing

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