Portugal 2001 decriminalization of drug use
Encyclopedia
In Portugal
during July of 2001, a new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one. By introducing Law 30/2000, for personal use was defined as being up to ten days supply of that substance. (Spain never criminalized drug use, and Italy also had similar regulations). This was in line with the de facto Portuguese drug policy before the reform. Drug addicts were to be aggressively targeted with therapy or community service rather than fines or waivers. Even if there are no criminal penalties, possession has remained prohibited by Portuguese law, and criminal penalties are still applied to drug growers, dealers and traffickers.
. The drugs are confiscated, and the suspect is interviewed by a “Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction” (Comissões para a Dissuasão da Toxicodependência – CDT). These commissions are made up of three people: A social worker, a psychiatrist, and an attorney. The dissuasion commission have powers comparable to an arbitration committee, but restricted to cases involving drug use or possession of small amounts of drugs. If the person is addicted to drugs, he or she may be admitted to a drug rehabilitation facility or be given community service, if the dissuasion committee finds that this better serves the purpose of keeping the offender out of trouble. If the offender is not addicted to drugs, or unwilling to submit to treatment or community service, they may be given a fine.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
during July of 2001, a new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one. By introducing Law 30/2000, for personal use was defined as being up to ten days supply of that substance. (Spain never criminalized drug use, and Italy also had similar regulations). This was in line with the de facto Portuguese drug policy before the reform. Drug addicts were to be aggressively targeted with therapy or community service rather than fines or waivers. Even if there are no criminal penalties, possession has remained prohibited by Portuguese law, and criminal penalties are still applied to drug growers, dealers and traffickers.
Regulation
Individuals found in possession of small quantities of drugs are issued summonsSummons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
. The drugs are confiscated, and the suspect is interviewed by a “Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction” (Comissões para a Dissuasão da Toxicodependência – CDT). These commissions are made up of three people: A social worker, a psychiatrist, and an attorney. The dissuasion commission have powers comparable to an arbitration committee, but restricted to cases involving drug use or possession of small amounts of drugs. If the person is addicted to drugs, he or she may be admitted to a drug rehabilitation facility or be given community service, if the dissuasion committee finds that this better serves the purpose of keeping the offender out of trouble. If the offender is not addicted to drugs, or unwilling to submit to treatment or community service, they may be given a fine.