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Re:Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working (2017) by cjblomqvist on Sunday July 14, 2019 @01:12PM (#20434506)
A lot of comments about why decriminalization of drug use is a no brainer. I'd like to point out that it's not that simple. From what I understand from different "experiments" like Portugal, it's a lot depending on context (eg culture) and how it's done. For example, easier access (lower taxes) on alcohol caused a rise in alcoholics and alcohol related deaths in Finland). Not everyone living in Colorado is happy about the outcome there either (sorry for no references, but please look it up if you'd like).

I'm not saying it shouldn't be done but like a startup venture, an idea is worth very little and the environment/market + how it's realized makes all the difference!

Re:Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working (2017) by ganzuul on Sunday July 14, 2019 @05:32PM (#20436209)
Alcohol and nicotine are extremely addictive and damaging, and you know what happens during prohibition.

Same as cultures differ, so do the drugs. The effects of labeling sick people (I believe the rare fully healthy people don't get addicted easily.) as criminals are however the same everywhere.

Re:Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working (2017) by arcturus17 on Monday July 15, 2019 @04:51AM (#20439114)
> easier access (lower taxes) on alcohol

I think you are conflating decriminalization with taxation, and decriminalization with legalization, because alcohol is a legal drug. Most people I know who are in favor of legalizing other drugs also support their taxation; at the very least to a point where (a) consumption is heavily disincentivized, (b) external negativities are paid for, and (c) black markets nearly disappear.

Re:Portugal’s radical drugs policy is working (2017) by computer_czar on Sunday July 14, 2019 @03:20PM (#20435359)
[citation needed]