Norway is the latest country to move toward decriminalizing drugs and promoting addiction treatment rather than punishing addicts.
This week, a majority of members of the Norwegian parliament directed the national government to reform its policies. “The majority in the parliament has asked the government to prepare for reform,” a spokesperson for the Storting, the Norwegian legislature, told Newsweek. “It has started a political process,” he said, still cautioning that “it’s just the starting point.” Despite some headlines’ claims that drugs have already been decriminalized, there is no legislation yet.
Nicolas Wilkinson, the SV (Socialist Left) party’s health spokesman in the Storting, said the majority wants to “stop punishing people who struggle, but instead give them help and treatment,” according to VG, a Norwegian publication. He said the switch in policy will lead to an emphasis on treatment and follow-up programs, though lawmakers made it clear that they do not intend to legalize drugs.
“It is important to emphasize that we do not legalize cannabis and other drugs, but we decriminalize,” Sveinung Stensland (H) [Conservative Party], deputy chairman of the Storting Health Committee, told VG.”The change will take some time, but that means a changed vision: Those who have a substance abuse problem should be treated as ill, and not as criminals with classical sanctions such as fines and imprisonment.”
Officials in Norway have been considering reforming the country’s prohibition policies for over a decade. Newsweek summarized
“In 2006, it started to test a program that would sentence drug users to treatment programs, rather than jail, in the cities Bergen and Oslo. In early 2016, the country gave Norwegian courts the option to do this on a national level.”
“The goal is that more addicts will rid themselves of their drug dependency and fewer will return to crime,”Justice Minister Anders Anundsen said at the time. “But if the terms of the programme are violated, the convicts must serve an ordinary prison term.”
The shift was introduced by the country’s conservative party, though some on the right condemned it, arguing drugs should remain wholly illegal, while reformists believed the change in policy didn’t go far enough.
“If Norway was truly progressive, they would follow WHO and UNAIDS recommendations and fully decriminalize drug use, ban forced treatment and stop using involuntary urine controls.”
Now, it appears Norway is inching closer toward decriminalization. Portugal opted to decriminalize drugs in 2001, a move that has drawn praise for the decrease in drug use that followed.
However, lawmakers hope to free up resources so police can pursue drug traffickers (rather than users), and other restrictions will remain. VG explained:
“It will still be a ‘ban on use and possession of drugs.’ However, the two major parties agree to ‘change the authorities’ reactions to persons taken for use and possession of drugs, from punishment to help, treatment and follow-up.’”
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If the US put as much money into helping addicts as they do into imprisoning them, all of society would be much better off. I disagree with leftists and socialists on many things, but I agree wholeheartedly with them on this issue.
Addicts are not criminals ~ either victims of their own personal choice or victims of unscrupulous drug dealers ~ or both.
If drugs were decriminalised the quality of 'The Product' could be monitored and dealers would no longer have a business.
No expert here but seems Portugal have got it right.
xox
The criminalization of drug use = the only way to tax the poor who live a cash economy, who pay no tax any other way.
ALL the drug suppliers are government sanctioned, and/or run. It's a massive worldwide cash business.
It pays for their dark operations.
(I don't mean your street corner dealer, is government sanctioned) lolol
That's totally my point too, look below I've detailed what I think about it :D
It baffles me that taking drugs is a criminal offence in the first place, it's a victimless crime, a personal choice where you decide what you can and can't put into your own body.
Addicts need care, not punishment - by labelling them a criminal you're isolating them from the rest of society even further. Non addicts who take drugs recreationaly are hurting nobody. And if I crime is the result of drugs they should be punished for the crime and their own neglegance, not their state of mind.
Absolutely agree, however I also support regulations in tandem with decriminalization. I do think the "product" should have quality standards that ensure scummy sellers don't adulterate it with harmful substances that could cause bad and unintended reactions.
Personal choice will come with personal responsibility and accountability. You cant expect government safety nets to save you if you've taken things too far.
Exactly, if the product was legalized or even decriminalized, we would have taken a multi-billion dollar industry from criminals and given it to legitimate, tax-paying companies that follow strict legal requirements with public safety in mind.
I know about it, this is the wisest choice, Portugal has been doing it for so long too, it's just better like that, because money should be spent into educating people on how to use drugs, it's more efficient than just sending them all to jail. After all we all have the right to do what we want with our bodies, and taking one shot of MDMA to boost your spirits for a night when you need to stay awake to finish some work or for a rave party once every blue moon has not killed anyone. It's only when you become addictive that it is dangerous, like addictive at a point you need it to fill some holes in your life. That's my general view of this problem. As long as they keep on criminalizing it, the drug war will go on, and banks along with politicians will go on laundering the dirty money. I guess this is the main reason why most countries have not yet taken this wise decision : their politicians have too much interests inside it. I'm glad I can say that freely on Steemit, because on Youtube or anywhere else it would be censored less than 2 hours later.
Just to play devils' advocate for a moment....I think these people don't see this as an opportunity for social change...They see it as an opportunity to create an industry where they can reap billions from society for 'treatment centres'.
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Decriminalization is the only way we can save our communities! The opiate epidemic swallowing Kids up left and right.
I'm norwegian, and I can only say one thing about this...
I smell a rat
Logical move I can't understand why all countries don't take this approach. People often take drugs as the are struggling in some way, they need help not punishment. Nice work Norway set an example like Portugal, who will wake up next. 💯🐒
Norwegian checking in here. Drugs in Norway carry a lot of taboo feelings, as we are a quite small population of only 5 million, and I'm not sure if we're ready for this legalization yet. Decriminalization is the right way to go for now.