[lm2s]

It's not really misleading if you know the how and why. For the addicts to accept health services help (like clean needles or getting off heroin) they could not be under threat of going to jail.

So you decriminalise to allow addicts to come forth and accept clean needles and other help, while simultaneously investing more money to provide that help.

It's a two prong "attack" and it's pretty simple actually.

[jdmoreira]

Exactly. Also, decriminalizing sends a message to the population that addicts are not criminals but people that by a series of mistakes and bad decisions are currently in a bad situation and in need of help.