Decriminalization Of Drug Usage Among Portugal - 1299 Words

Decriminalization of Drug Usage in Portugal Derrick Routon American Government 101 Professor Newman 21 April 2016 Portugal has garnered a large amount of attention since adopting a new method to combat drug usage. They have moved to decriminalize low scale drug possession and usage instead of an incarceration of low level offenders. Many nations have desired to reevaluate their own regimen of substance control and the way abuses were handled. The Portuguese government has collected a plethora of data while the implementation of their drug governance changed. The statistics gathered have shown that current United States policies would benefit from changes in its rabid criminalization of substance abuse. In 2001, the European Monitoring Centre for Dugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) enacted the new drug policy in Portugal. The new law focused on the decriminalization of drug use. In their words, this â€Å"comprises removal of a conduct or activity from the sphere of criminal law. Prohibition remains the rule, but sanctions for use (and its preparatory acts) no longer fall within the f ramework of the criminal law.† Notice the wording focused on the fact that drug use was still a societal obstacle even with the new law. The reason for such a drastic policy shift was due to staggering statics centered on the rise of drug usage. The political reasons for the shift to decriminalization was due to the increases in drug abuse and the other diseases thatShow MoreRelatedDrug Use And Its Effect On Crime1610 Words   |  7 PagesCrime and drug use in Portugal has been a major issue, however after the government instated decriminalization, the number has decreased. Decriminalization appears to have had a slight positive effect on crime. â€Å"With its recategorization of low level drug possession as an administrative rather than a criminal offence, decriminalization inevitably produced a reduction in the number of people arrested and sent to criminal court for drug offences from over 14,000 in the year 2000, to around 5,500-6Read MoreShould Marijuana Drugs Be Legal ized?932 Words   |  4 PagesThe subject of drugs has certainly been an issue that has been widely discussed. Over the years, it has always boiled down to whether all drugs should be legalized or not. While the United States has been arguing over the topic of for many years, countries, such as Portugal, have taken an alternative and very unique way to fight the war on drugs. In 2001, the Portuguese government decided to flip its war on drugs strategy entirely: It decriminalized them all (Aleem). At first, this strategy was greatlyRead MoreAmericas War On Drugs1528 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica’s war on drugs has failed. After millions of dollars and untold man hours spent enforcing the prohibition of illegal drugs, there is little, if any, success to show for it. Illicit drugs are still available on most American street corners, drug usage rates have not decreased, and the scourge of drug related violence continues to spread like wildfire. Sadly, the war on drugs has also resulted in the incarceration of millions of Americans for petty possession offenses and has created a blackRead MoreDecriminalization Of The Criminal Justice System909 Words   |  4 PagesIn July, 2001 Portugal s Law 30/20001 decriminalized all drugs. Under the new law, possession of small amounts of drugs (~10 days or less worth of personal use), while still legally prohibited, were no longer grounds for criminal offense. This approach was taken from a public health perspective and was accompanied by a concurrent increase in treatment and harm-reduction options.2 The combination of decriminalization, taking drug-users out of the criminal justice system, and investment in harm-reductionRead MoreThe Encyclopedia Of Drug Abuse760 Words   |  4 PagesEncyclopedia of Drug Abuse. 2nd ed. New York: Facts on File, 1992. 175-79. Print. Summary: The article in this reference source also offers an overview of what marijuana is, but provides a more thorough overview of its ancient history than the above reference source. What is truly excellent about this article is that it examines the effects of marijuana usage. Also, the article discusses how the effects are highly subjective and dependent on several variables 2. Greenwald, Glenn. Decriminalization in PortugalRead MoreLegalization of all Drugs - Persuasion Essay1645 Words   |  7 PagesLegalization of all Drugs - Persuasion Essay â€Å"I ve never had a problem with drugs. I ve had problems with the police.† This quote, told by Keith Richards, represents a major problem affecting the rights of the American people. Contrary to what former presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and much of the American population believed, the effects of illegalizing drugs and declaring the â€Å"War on Drugs† have been far more detrimental to the wellbeing of the nation than if all of the drugs on the ControlledRead MoreDrugs : Why They Should Be Decriminalized2049 Words   |  9 PagesDrugs: Why they should be decriminalized Imagine this scenario, you and a friend are at a party. The host offers you and your friend to smoke a joint. Thinking that it’s a cigarette you and your friend both take one, without realizing it’s actually marijuana. You and your friend enjoy it so much thinking it’s a different brand of cigarette that you end up smoking more than usual. Before leaving you grab a handful of marijuana. You and your friend end up driving back home, but you two are pulledRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1714 Words   |  7 PagesEthics 312 18 April 2016 Drugs in the United States There has been controversy centered around the thought of legalizing drugs in the U.S and the effects of legalizing or not legalizing drugs. There are several drugs such as cocaine, heroin, opium, to name a few, with the most common being marijuana. The question raised on this topic is whether we should prohibit drug use, making it illegal or only allow marijuana to be legal. Discussions on this topic mention that drugs will be available in theRead MoreThe War On Drugs, And Sale Of Illegal Drugs1865 Words   |  8 PagesThe usage, abuse, and sale of illegal drugs is an epidemic that has remained an unsolved problem of the United States. The biggest effort that the United States has launched in order to deal with rampancy of drug issues is the War on Drugs that was started by former president Richard Nixon. During its beginning, the War on Drugs was controversial due to the attitudes that were directed to drug users that were cultivated by the policies being set. In the present d ay, the War on Drugs is under scrutinyRead MoreDiscussing Drug Legalization1821 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Drugs are bad, mkay.† That’s what we’ve come to learn from Mr. Mackey in South Park (Ike’s Wee Wee). While that is known, what is the best way to combat drug use in society today? It is true the government is spending billions of dollars on the â€Å"War on Drugs,† but if they were to be legalized would that be replaced with money being spent on healthcare due to drug related incidents, or drug treatment programs? It is true that a large amount of crime and the prison population are drug related offenders