As you can imagine, there was widespread criticism brought down on Portugal throughout the world. Conservative politicians called the measures "pure lunacy" and predicted that Portuguese towns would soon be inundated by scores of drug users from all over the world. But after all the initial hubbub blew over and time passed by, the program has not only worked, but worked brilliantly. Drug trafficking and drug-related malfeasance like sexually-transmitted diseases and overdoses are well down from pre-decriminalization levels. And as for the "drug tourism" threat that many had predicted"95% of those cited for drugs have been Portuguese. It is important to add here that in Portugal, drugs aren't actually "legal". Those caught with drugs and drug paraphernalia are cited and sent to "dissuasion commissions" rather than being sent before a judge in an actual courtroom. These dissuasion commissions are comprised of psychiatrists, social workers, and legal advisors which aim to stem recreational use before it becomes an addiction. The commissions have the power to levy community service sentences or fines, but more often than not, choose to assign treatment plans.
This ain't Portugal buddy.
No sir it isn't, and thankfully we don't have any problems with drug use here in America do we? Fortunately, the greater Heber-Overgaard area is totally meth-free.
Snide snickers from the crowd.
In all honesty, the plan I'm proposing is altogether different from the one in Portugal or the one recently initiated in Mexico, in which "party doses" or small amounts of various drugs for personal use (including cocaine and heroin) have recently been decriminalized. I think we need to take things a step further. We need to skip decriminalization and legalize drugs. All drugs.
You're crazy!
Perhaps sir, but what have we really gained from the war on drugs? Full capacity prisons? And I'm not talking here about hardened criminals like underworld thugs and multi-million dollar dealers (they don't get caught anyway). I'm talking about recreational users.
I have a question.
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