I know we go down this road too often. This will be an interesting situation to watch though.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Portugal legalises drug use
Rolling back the drugs laws
The Portuguese Government has voted to
decriminalise the consumption of illegal drugs such as
cannabis and heroin.
Drug users will now be treated as sick people in need
of medical help.
Previously, drug users and
those caught in possession
of small amounts of banned
drugs for personal use
faced up to a year's
imprisonment.
The sale and trafficking of illegal drugs remain crimes.
Under the new law police will report drug takers to
special local authority commissions which will ensure
addicts seek treatment.
"The idea is to get away
from punishment towards
treatment," government
spokesman Carlos Borges
told Reuters news agency.
The ruling Socialist Party,
which is one seat short of
an outright parliamentary
majority, was backed in
the vote by the Communist
Party and other
left-of-centre parties.
Referendum call
The main conservative opposition party, the Social
Democrats, had urged the government to call a
referendum on the proposed new law.
Prime Minister Antonio Guterres rejected the
referendum idea on the grounds that the change being
put forward was not sufficiently sweeping to merit a
national vote.
A significant proportion of prisoners in Portugal's jails
are there for drug-related offences, but the number of
people sentenced simply for possession or
consumption is very low.
"It would not be more than a couple of dozen," said
one government official.
Portugal becomes the third member of the European
Union, after Spain and Italy, to decriminalise the
consumption and possession of small quantities of
drugs.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Portugal legalises drug use
Rolling back the drugs laws
The Portuguese Government has voted to
decriminalise the consumption of illegal drugs such as
cannabis and heroin.
Drug users will now be treated as sick people in need
of medical help.
Previously, drug users and
those caught in possession
of small amounts of banned
drugs for personal use
faced up to a year's
imprisonment.
The sale and trafficking of illegal drugs remain crimes.
Under the new law police will report drug takers to
special local authority commissions which will ensure
addicts seek treatment.
"The idea is to get away
from punishment towards
treatment," government
spokesman Carlos Borges
told Reuters news agency.
The ruling Socialist Party,
which is one seat short of
an outright parliamentary
majority, was backed in
the vote by the Communist
Party and other
left-of-centre parties.
Referendum call
The main conservative opposition party, the Social
Democrats, had urged the government to call a
referendum on the proposed new law.
Prime Minister Antonio Guterres rejected the
referendum idea on the grounds that the change being
put forward was not sufficiently sweeping to merit a
national vote.
A significant proportion of prisoners in Portugal's jails
are there for drug-related offences, but the number of
people sentenced simply for possession or
consumption is very low.
"It would not be more than a couple of dozen," said
one government official.
Portugal becomes the third member of the European
Union, after Spain and Italy, to decriminalise the
consumption and possession of small quantities of
drugs.
