A Portrait of Portugal Fourteen Years after Legalization

In 2001, Portugal decided to decriminalize the possession of cannabis and other substances for personal use. Since then, punishments have not been handed down for possession and consumption of small quantities of drugs. At the time, the decision was controversial and many believed that the move would turn out badly: the number of consumers would increase if possession was no longer a criminal offence, and was now classified as an infringement.

Time has now shown that not arresting consumers, and instead offering them government funded rehabilitation treatment if requested, was not an erroneous decision.

The organisation 'Transform: Getting drugs under control' has just published a report showing the success of the legalisation policy given that adult consumption rates have not shot up: the number of people who have consumed drugs in the last year has fallen, as has the number who have consumed within the last month.

The overall assessment has been positive with regard to the interests of authorities. The number of marijuana consumers aged between 15 and 64 has dropped over the period, during both the initial stage (up until 2007) as well as the latter stage (up until 2012).

This decrease is also repeated among young people between 15 and 24, the age group at which marijuana consumption is most likely to begin. Therefore, it seems that the measures approved years ago have not generally caused the next generation to consume marijuana. However, the number of people who consume it on a regular basis has risen over time.

The report demonstrates that the abolition of criminal sanctions has not led to a rise in consumption within Portugal. Consequently, this information could be used by other countries who are reconsidering which anti-drug policies they should adopt: banning is never the best course of action.

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Information taken from 'Transform: getting drugs under control' and BBC. The graphics are the property of 'Transform: getting drugs under control'.