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RainDog

(28,784 posts)

23. Portugal seems to have had a better outcome with decriminalization

Wed Apr 18, 2012, 08:43 AM

Apr 2012

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9C6x99EnFVdFuXw_B8pvDRzLqcA?docId=CNG.e740b6d0077ba8c28f6d1dd931c6f679.5e1

That's decriminalization of ALL drugs, not just marijuana.

Health experts in Portugal said Friday that Portugal's decision 10 years ago to decriminalise drug use and treat addicts rather than punishing them is an experiment that has worked.

"There is no doubt that the phenomenon of addiction is in decline in Portugal," said Joao Goulao, President of the Institute of Drugs and Drugs Addiction, a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the law.

The number of addicts considered "problematic" -- those who repeatedly use "hard" drugs and intravenous users -- had fallen by half since the early 1990s, when the figure was estimated at around 100,000 people, Goulao said.

Other factors had also played their part however, Goulao, a medical doctor added. "This development can not only be attributed to decriminalisation but to a confluence of treatment and risk reduction policies."

Portugal's holistic approach had also led to a "spectacular" reduction in the number of infections among intravenous users and a significant drop in drug-related crimes, he added.

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Over 300 Economists Agree: It�s Time to Legalize Marijuana [View all] MindMover Apr 2012 OP

K&R Arctic Dave Apr 2012 #1

the police industrial complex and its commander in chief will not like this or go along - cuts into msongs Apr 2012 #2

Yep - the status quo serves the for-profit prison complex AND big pharma. polichick Apr 2012 #73

Such a no-brainer. Webster Green Apr 2012 #3

I watched one of the virtual people on tv the other night trying to rationalize the administration's jtuck004 Apr 2012 #4

Smart move, best to keep your powder dry and gun ready for bigger game...... MindMover Apr 2012 #5

My questions about the meme about prohibition having ended mob rule are these: JDPriestly Apr 2012 #13

Here's a graph of the homicide rate in the USA.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #16

Interesting the second peak in homicides felix_numinous Apr 2012 #46

That's an excellent graph RainDog Apr 2012 #51

Here you go.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #53

thanks! n/t RainDog Apr 2012 #54

We don't outlaw everything that is bad for people. And alcohol is far worse for people than pot is. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #18

Setting aside the fact that marijuana is probably not as damaging to our health JDPriestly Apr 2012 #58

Are you really that uninformed? uwep Apr 2012 #19

More than that, the start (not end) of Prohibition *increased* alcohol consumption among women. ieoeja Apr 2012 #39

likewise waddirum Apr 2012 #68

Question away, of course, but those weren't expected outcomes of the prohibition jtuck004 Apr 2012 #20

Portugal seems to have had a better outcome with decriminalization RainDog Apr 2012 #23

THANK you. i was about to go google for this link, which tells the whole story 99th_Monkey Apr 2012 #44

Thanks. "a confluence of treatment and risk reduction policies." That's good news. JDPriestly Apr 2012 #59

In the case of hard drugs, dispensing needles to addicts RainDog Apr 2012 #61

there's also data from the Dutch policy RainDog Apr 2012 #24

The U.S. imprisons more people per capita than China RainDog Apr 2012 #25

And very expensively, too. nt bemildred Apr 2012 #33

Doesn't china execute their drug dealers? lupulin Apr 2012 #37

Probably JonLP24 Apr 2012 #48

the apt comparision would be drug USE, not dealing RainDog Apr 2012 #49

True - it is not a comparison lupulin Apr 2012 #65

The issue was arrests, not use. You then made the issue dealing, not arrests RainDog Apr 2012 #66

my point was merely lupulin Apr 2012 #67

my remark was veering into snark RainDog Apr 2012 #69

Do you know anyone whose parole violation duhneece Apr 2012 #71

no lupulin Apr 2012 #75

Very good points. JDPriestly Apr 2012 #60

The War on Drugs has hurt millions duhneece Apr 2012 #70

You might want to check out the Drug Policy Forum RainDog Apr 2012 #26

My questions are more along the lines of: 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #38

the answer to that one is clear to me RainDog Apr 2012 #50

The reality is that anything that prohibits personal choice is a burden on the economy. Gregorian Apr 2012 #6

Here's the problem. TheWraith Apr 2012 #7

Hopeless and obsessed...... MindMover Apr 2012 #8

Is that really true? It would make an interesting polling question Comrade Grumpy Apr 2012 #10

I doubt it. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #17

Yes, the problem is $$$... IthinkThereforeIAM Apr 2012 #35

This isn't about "liking drugs" or not RainDog Apr 2012 #27

I have made the same argument. And it is worse. ieoeja Apr 2012 #40

Ryan Grimm was a lobbyist for MPP RainDog Apr 2012 #57

It's an election year. truthisfreedom Apr 2012 #9

It will be part of the national conversation; it's on the ballot in two states. Comrade Grumpy Apr 2012 #11

Our 3 Dem. gubernatorial candidates were asked about it in the first televised Tunkamerica Apr 2012 #14

Yeah, NC. Meanwhile, 16 States plus DC already passed Medical Marijuana laws with Bluenorthwest Apr 2012 #29

And in Washington State pscot Apr 2012 #30

Well, I was responding to the prvious poster who said it won't even be part of the Tunkamerica Apr 2012 #77

I was curious and dug up the actual list of signers... bluedigger Apr 2012 #12

along with economists from Yale, Stanford and Cornell RainDog Apr 2012 #52

Did I touch a nerve or something? bluedigger Apr 2012 #55

that was my own post RainDog Apr 2012 #56

VCSU doesn't seem to be a community college Tunkamerica Apr 2012 #62

Your list is breath-taking! duhneece Apr 2012 #72

Thanks for the kind remark RainDog Apr 2012 #74

30 helens... Tunkamerica Apr 2012 #15

It only takes one lobbyist with a fat wallet that disagrees with them to keep it Dragonfli Apr 2012 #21

500 economists agreed during the Bush administration as well. RainDog Apr 2012 #22

President responds: Uh, ummm., ahhhhh....God is in the Mix! Bluenorthwest Apr 2012 #28

By their acts you shall know them pscot Apr 2012 #31

Job security is at stake: bemildred Apr 2012 #34

Ending the drug war saves US billions if not trillions of dollars anti-alec Apr 2012 #32

Kicked and recommended for common sense, logic, compassion and sanity. Uncle Joe Apr 2012 #36

Aw, Jeez, not this shit again. The Stranger Apr 2012 #41

I know what you mean, people demanding freedom, privacy, and logic based common sense policies Uncle Joe Apr 2012 #43

Too bad this will be ignored... FlyByNight Apr 2012 #42

Legalzie now! sarcasmo Apr 2012 #45

And about 530 federal level politicians disagree.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #47

Finally, 300 economists I agree with. n/t rayofreason Apr 2012 #63

Or another way to put it.....300 economists agree on something....WOW !!!!!! MindMover Apr 2012 #64

298 also want potato chips, and can we put on some Earthless? sofa king Apr 2012 #76