Quote:
Originally Posted by RobotTalk
The thing about the Portugal example that's often left out is the compulsory treatment that accompanied legalization. Yes, you don't get criminally charged with drug possession, but it's also not just some free for all. You have to report for treatment, there are drug tests, and you can be locked up (not in prison, but in a treatment facility) for failure to comply.
Our approach of just letting crackheads roam free to cause chaos while simultaneously increasing the availability of drugs is the worst of both worlds; and I say that as someone that thinks recreational drug use should generally be legal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/u...treatment.html |
Agreed, which is why I linked that Rhode Island program above. Decriminalize personal drug possession, actually arrest addicts who commit crimes, and then force them into the program to be eligible for release. Take the millions of dollars spent on drug enforcement and direct it into treatment programs that actually have some teeth
Of course those are just the first steps. The real root cause of the increase Calgary's drug problems are rising poverty levels. Vancouver has dealt with this for decades because of how unaffordable it is to live there, and now we're seeing more issues now with the sharp increase in real estate/rent and ridiculously high inflation. Even the best drug treatment and rehabilitation strategies won't matter if people can't afford rent or groceries