If Cannabis Is Legalized, Portugal Could Be A Window Into California's Future



Hey there! Wes Messamore here. In this video, I narrate my most recent article at CAIVN- Jack Hunter style. Opponents of cannabis legalization worry that it will have a detrimental effect on society. That feeling is understandable, but citing a Cato study, I take a look at Portugal where all drugs were decriminalized in 2001. Ten years later not only has Portugal avoided a nightmare of spiraling drug addiction, all signs indicate that drug use in Portugal has declined. Enjoy!


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Comments

  1. Gorges SmytheSun Jun 27, 07:42:00 PM EDT

    Well, prohibition certainly didn't lessen drinking, but it did make the mob (and the Kennedy's) rich.

    I've always heard that the main reason government big-wigs don't want to legalize drugs is because legal competition would cut into their profits.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Les CarpenterSun Jun 27, 09:39:00 PM EDT

    Wes - Excellent work!

    The data you present here supports that which I have known to be true for years.

    Well done my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Les CarpenterSun Jun 27, 09:47:00 PM EDT

    Gorges Smythe - Yeah, I could never figure it out. You would think Leviathan would want to legalize so it could tax and add to the revenue stream!

    ReplyDelete
  4. SilverfiddleMon Jun 28, 11:15:00 PM EDT

    I wonder if there is a connection with the country's lack of a big social safety net?

    I agree with decriminalizing drugs in principal, but I don't think we're ready. In order to implement a libertarian law, we must be prepared to live with the libertarian consequences (Coked out losers losing their homes, wandering the streets.

    Liberals would scream "do something!" and you and I would end up supporting these burned out losers and their innocent children.

    I'm a medium core libertarian, and I agree with the theoretical argument--just playing devils advocate.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Les CarpenterTue Jun 29, 01:30:00 AM EDT

    SilverFiddle - I guess we have to start somewhere or we will never be ready. Call it a leap of faith I guess. The data is pretty clear though.

    ReplyDelete

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