[Nursie]

> So far legalization has not proven to solve the problems of demand or addiction.

It solves the problem of peoples lives being (further) ruined by punitive policy. It opens up the possibility of seeking help without risking criminal conviction.

[xienze]

> It opens up the possibility of seeking help without risking criminal conviction.

There are numerous recovery clinics in the US. I’m not aware of any of them having a policy of reporting their patients to the police. What would they even be arrested for? Having been high in the past?

Fear of criminal penalties isn’t a barrier to recovery in the US. I’m not sure where you got this impression.

[Nursie]

I'm not in the US, but it's a barrier everywhere AFAICT.

It's an admission of past criminal behaviour and potential future criminal behaviour. People who are addicted are very likely to be in possession for fear of getting withdrawals as much as anything else.

It seems as though Portugal has had a lot of success with its approach.

[austincheney]

I was pretty clear that I am not advocating for criminalization.

[Nursie]

But you said that legalisation hasn't tackled addiction. So far I'm not aware of anywhere that the majorly addictive drugs (heroin, cocaine) have been legalised. Portugal has made inroads into its addiction problem with its decriminalisation program.

[austincheney]

> But you said that legalisation hasn't tackled addiction.

It has not. Much of the opioid problem in the US is due to legally available drugs. Criminalizing those drugs would probably make it worse.

[thecopy]

I think i've read somewhere that Portugal's decriminalization of all drugs has had positive effects.

[austincheney]

I suspect legalization would have positive effects in the US as well, but I do not suspect it will slow consumption. This is evidenced by juvenile vaping rates. The trends indicate that vaping is on schedule to far exceed historic levels of tobacco consumption by minors. Vaping is generally healthier than tobacco having little or no toxins, but the nicotine content is variable and can occur in far greater concentrations than in tobacco products resulting in greater addiction rates than tobacco. Whether or not nicotine were criminalized demand and consumption would continue to grow. The problem is not legality or even availability. The problem is demand. Children want to smoke nicotine products that taste like candy. The messaging is that tobacco is bad, but vaping is... (not communicated).

I suspect the differences in cultural attitudes between Portugal and the US are a large factor for the differences in evidence of success.