Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs (2016)
Some reasons for decriminalization of use and possession, summarized:<p>(i.e., removing criminal penalties or making it no jail time possible, but not government supplied)<p>- War on drugs has failed. Criminalization has consequences on community - in many cases, most of the negative effects come from the criminalization, not the drug.<p>- Consensual crimes that don’t harm others shouldn’t be crimes.<p>- Drug prohibition doesn’t seem to decrease use — Portugal. (Also perhaps Czech, Italy, Spain?)<p>- Drug war enforcement costs a ton, we could save tax money.<p>- 1.2 million people arrested for drug possession in 2015. <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.drugwarfacts.org&#x2F;chapter&#x2F;crime_arrests#arrests" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.drugwarfacts.org&#x2F;chapter&#x2F;crime_arrests#arrests</a><p>- Prisons are crowded. Would reduce this a little.<p>- Easier for addicts to seek treatment.<p>I think the strongest reasons are that drug use should be treated as a health issue and not a criminal issue, and that consensual crimes that don&#x27;t harm others shouldn&#x27;t be crimes.<p>What is the single strongest reason for or against decriminalizing all drugs, in your opinion?