Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work? (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html)

The answer is a clear yes. According to a study by the CATO Institute, after decriminalization of all narcotic drugs in Portugal, drug use went down, while drug treatment went up and prison costs went down.

For many of us, this is a duuuh, yeah, of course! But thanks to Portugal, the US appears to be taking note.

So maybe Mr. Pres. Obama doesn't think marijuana is the best way to grow our economy, but perhaps decriminalizing all drug use is the most humane way to deal with the illness of addiction.

(It's a good thing wheel chairs aren't illegal, eh?)

Do you know the cato group ??? They are big in this system $$$$$

Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work? (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html)

The answer is a clear yes. According to a study by the CATO Institute, after decriminalization of all narcotic drugs in Portugal, drug use went down, while drug treatment went up and prison costs went down.

For many of us, this is a duuuh, yeah, of course! But thanks to Portugal, the US appears to be taking note.

So maybe Mr. Pres. Obama doesn't think marijuana is the best way to grow our economy, but perhaps decriminalizing all drug use is the most humane way to deal with the illness of addiction.

(It's a good thing wheel chairs aren't illegal, eh?)

I was driving today and heard a story about this on our local NPR affiliate. In a nutshell, all the naughty-naughty statistics went down, pretty much across the board. Adult use, teen use, went down.

Indeed, I hope the US is taking note -- in INK not pencil. This war on drugs is a never ending money pit that is going nowhere. It is a perfect example of legislators pandering to votes and emotion, not logic and reality.

John

This is very good info.