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Is anyone else perplexed that the success metric for decriminalization is reduced drug use? I'd think reduced crime (esp organized), reduced prison populations
by njharman 17y ago
Is anyone else perplexed that the success metric for decriminalization is reduced drug use?
I'd think reduced crime (esp organized), reduced prison populations, savings in prosecuting housing drug non-criminals, job increases from local production/distribution, and/or tax revenue increases would all be more interesting / relevant metrics.
It sounds like Portugal took the path of "it's still illegal and bad, we're just not gonna punish you for it". Which isn't really decriminalization in my book.
- lmkg 17y agoNo, that's decriminalization. Leaving the laws on the books but not enforcing them is decriminalization. Taking the laws off the books is legalization. The societal view of whether it's bad or not can't be legislated directly, but it could change as use patterns shift over the years.
- Symmetry 17y agoI seem to recall hearing that when alcohol was legalized the number of people drinking roughly doubled and the number of alcoholics went up by around 15% (there seems to be a correlation between substance abuse and willingness to break the law, surprise surprise).
- puredemo 17y agoAgreed. It presumes that usage is inherently bad, which is questionable.