On March 12, 2012 By Uri Brito In Politics Like

Drug Decriminalization in Portugal

With the success of Portugal’s decriminalization, scholars have now begun to examine why it worked. As expected, some show skepticism. Here are two central perspectives:

Peter Reuter, a professor of criminology and public policy at the University of Maryland, like Kleiman, is skeptical. He conceded in a presentation at the Cato Institute that “it’s fair to say that decriminalization in Portugal has met its central goal. Drug use did not rise.” However, he notes that Portugal is a small country and that the cyclical nature of drug epidemics — which tends to occur no matter what policies are in place — may account for the declines in heroin use and deaths.

The Cato report’s author, Greenwald, hews to the first point: that the data shows that decriminalization does not result in increased drug use. Since that is what concerns the public and policymakers most about decriminalization, he says, “that is the central concession that will transform the debate.”

About the Author / Uri Brito

Uri Brito is the Senior Pastor of Providence Church in Pensacola, Fl. He is married to Melinda and is the father of five children. He is the co-author of a new commentary on Ruth for the "Through New Eyes" series, the editor of The Church-Friendly Family, author of The Trinitarian Father, and co-author of the e-booklet Christian Pipe-Smoking. He is the founder and contributor to Kuyperian Commentary, and guest contributor at The Christian Post. He is a board member of the Theopolis Institute. Rev. Brito received his M.Div and D.Min. from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fl.