gazzthompson
12-27-2011, 03:48 PM
Just read this, thought some of you might find it interesting. Just seems like more and more info, facts and statistics piling on in support of decriminalization of drugs.
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs
One of the main reasons against legalization or decriminalization of marijuana etc is more people will use it. The facts are different:
Following decriminalization, Portugal has the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the EU: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%, Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%. Drug use in older teens also declined. Life time heroin use among 16-18 year olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8%.
New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003.
Death related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half.
The number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and the considerable money saved on enforcement allowed for increase funding of drug – free treatment as well.
Property theft has dropped dramatically (50% - 80% of all property theft worldwide is caused by drug users).
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs
One of the main reasons against legalization or decriminalization of marijuana etc is more people will use it. The facts are different:
Following decriminalization, Portugal has the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the EU: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%, Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%. Drug use in older teens also declined. Life time heroin use among 16-18 year olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8%.
New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003.
Death related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half.
The number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and the considerable money saved on enforcement allowed for increase funding of drug – free treatment as well.
Property theft has dropped dramatically (50% - 80% of all property theft worldwide is caused by drug users).
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs