From AOL NEWS:
Ten years ago, Portugal had some 100,000 heroin addicts — about 1 percent of its entire population. HIV infections from injecting drugs were among the highest in Europe.
Now the addict count has been cut nearly in half. HIV infections from drug use have fallen more than 90 percent. And the policy shift responsible for such a dramatic improvement in Portuguese life is something U.S. lawmakers — watching an escalating drug war on their southern border — might consider worthy of some attention: decriminalization.
Ten years ago this summer, Portugal became the first country in Europe to decriminalize all illegal drugs — marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and even heroin. Hefty fines and prison sentences still await drug traffickers and dealers, but users caught with less than a 10-day supply of any drug are no longer considered criminals. Instead, they’re referred to a panel comprised of a drug-treatment specialist, a lawyer and a civil servant, who usually recommend treatment — and pay for it, too. If the users decline treatment and go back to abusing drugs, that’s their prerogative…
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It is great to see some progress in loosening marijuana regulations in California. Marijuana isn’t any more harmful than cigarettes, alcohol, or any other drug in the marketplace right now. When government eventually legalize marijuana, the Mexican drug cartel issue will fade away, too!