Drug Policies Around the World

1. Drug Policies Around the World Portugal: Portugal is one of the most relevant references in the application of alternative strategies to combat drug use, approaching this issue from the health perspective, not from a criminal base. In 2001 the Portuguese Government decriminalized the possession of low profile drugs and reclassified this crime as an administrative violation. They changed the combat strategy and instead of economic sanctions or prolonged imprisonment, they opted for therapies and community service, with the objective of fomenting their rehabilitation. Since then the Portuguese authorities have reported a significant decrement in violent crimes, addictions and disease transmission. Netherlands: Many people think that drugs are legal in the Netherlands because of the tolerance of the cannabis, however, the scenario is a little more complex. The Dutch Government does tolerate establishments known as “Coffee Shops”, where people can acquire small quantities of cannabis for their personal use, but they still prosecute drug sales and traffic. The penalty for drug traffic in the Netherlands varies from 12 to 16 years of imprisonment, and up to 4 years for importing or exporting large quantities of cannabis. The Dutch Government also approaches the drug problem through a health perspective, and it is said that their flexibility with the cannabis is because they want to avoid the usage of other, more harmful, drugs. United States: In United States the illegal substances are classified in different categories; the penalties for drug possession or sale depend on the category and amount found on the individual at the moment of the arrest. The extension of the fight against drug trafficking promoted by the North American government has expanded outside the borders; Colombia, Mexico and Central Asia are places where several administrations have chosen military strategies to dismantle the criminal organizations. The contradictions of the North American policies come from their own country, for many States in the American Union have accepted a personal doze of cannabis.

2. Mexico: In Mexico drug use –except in medical cases, according to the General Health Law- sale or traffic is strongly penalized. The person who introduces, transport, traffic, trade or supply an illegal substance –in reference to the Federal Criminal Code—will be imprisoned from ten to twenty five years and fined from 100 to 500 days. For possession felony, a period from five to fifteen years of jail will be imposed and fined from 100 to 300 days in case the individual does not fulfill with the authorization of the amounts and permitted cases by the General Health Law. Uruguay: This south American country has been the first one among the Latin American countries that legalizes drugs. According to the Uruguayan law “the person with a reasonable amount of cannabis, destined for personal use will be extent of any penalization, according to the moral conviction of the judge”. This is another scenario where certain amount of use is legalized –only in the case of cannabis- however, the drug trafficking and sale is still penalized. It is also worth to mention that Uruguay is the country with a monopoly of the cannabis production.