Portugal Legalizes Drugs and Crime and Drug Use Falls

Instead of incarcerating vast numbers as in the U.S., treatment is offered and encouraged, and while trafficking drugs remains a crime, personal use does not. Of course, it's not really "legalization", just "decriminalization", but still a major step in the right direction.

If the state is to get involved where it doesn't belong, at least treat drug users and addicts as people with a problem needing treatment (like alcoholics) rather than as criminals requiring prison sentences.

"The apocalypse never happened" as some predicted when the country of Portugal decriminalized ALL illegal drugs eight years ago. The country did NOT become a haven for drug use, and drug abuse & drug crime actually FELL.