Economics and human rights. Andrey Sokolov

recognize that drug use is a health problem, not a criminal law, and that those who use drugs illegally need treatment and support, and not punishment.

      Venezuela

      Since 1993, in Venezuela, for those who have been caught with two grams of cocaine or 20 grams of cannabis, the prison has been replaced by “measures of social impact”. Such people arrested for storing drugs for personal use are sent for treatment. (59)

      Germany

      The medical use of cannabis is legal since 2007. As of April 2016, hemp received 647 patients. Keeping marijuana can be both legal and not, depending on the amount of grass and local laws. Most laws of the various “lands” of Germany allow storing up to 5g of marijuana.

      The German police do not pursue citizens for keeping a “small amount” for personal consumption. But can delay for smoking marijuana in public places, at school or in the presence of children. (60, 61)

      Denmark

      Since 2011, the Danish Medical Agency has authorized the use of three varieties of medical cannabis for a patient with cancer or multiple sclerosis. (62)

      Israel

      Since 1994, Israel has been allowed to use marijuana to people who suffer from cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder. (63)

      Spain

      Since 1992, in Spain, the use of marijuana is an administrative crime. For storage of “grass” or smoking on the street a fine of up to 300 euros is possible. Storing more than 40 g of cannabis, spreading and growing marijuana is a criminal offense (from 1 to 3 years). (64)

      Smoking cannabis in public places is prohibited, but there are specialized clubs of marijuana lovers, which in Spain are about 500. (65)

      Cambodia

      In Cambodia, marijuana is illegal. Application for medical purposes or in cooking is not prosecuted. In local restaurants Happy Pizza with cannabis is openly sold, and in the markets – “cheerful” confectionery. (66)

      Canada

      Since 2001, smoking marijuana is permitted for medical purposes. The grass can be legally grown if there is a doctor’s order and a special permit that is issued to patients with various forms of cancer, AIDS, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. (67) In Canadian Vancouver medical marijuana is prescribed to people who complain of a bad dream. In mid-2015, the city had about 80 shops selling cannabis. (68) By 2018 full legalization of marijuana is planned. (1, 69)

      Colombia

      Since 2015, it is allowed to store up to 20g of cannabis and grow up to 20 plants for personal purposes. (70, 71, 72)

      Malta

      Since 2015, the storage of a small amount of marijuana and a number of other drugs has been decriminalized. The crime is not the presence of 3.5 g of cannabis, two grams of other drugs or two Ecstasy tablets. Excess is punishable by a fine of 50 to 125 euros.

      Mexico

      In Mexico since 2009, the presence of 5g of marijuana, 2g opium, 500mg of cocaine, 50mg of heroin, 40mg of amphetamine and up to 0.015mg of LSD is not a crime. (73)

      Netherlands

      Drugs are officially divided into “light” and “heavy” since 1972. (74)

      Storage of 30 g of “light” drugs is decriminalized. “Heavy” drugs are prohibited. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and in 100 cities, legal coffeeshops with permission to sell marijuana, hallucinogenic fungi and other light drugs work. The purpose of legal coffeeshops is to compete with illegal heavy drugs.

      However, the storage, production and sale of any drugs are illegal. This is a bit inconsistent and hypocritical. But coffeeshops and their clients, who want to be law-abiding, manage to fit into a 30-gram “Procrustean bed”. People over the age of 18 can buy up to five grams of cannabis daily in coffeeshops. The purchase of drugs on the street is illegal.

      Paraguay

      Since 1988, it is allowed to store for personal use up to two grams of cocaine or heroin and up to 10 grams of cannabis. (75)

      Portugal

      Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001. What does it mean? Drugs remain illegal, but their storage for personal purposes will not lead to prison. Even heroin. (76, 77) At the same time, the sale of drugs is prohibited.

      In Portugal it is allowed to store one gram of heroin, MDMA or amphetamine, two grams of cocaine and up to 25 grams of cannabis. If such stocks are discovered, the police do not arrest the addict, but sends them to the “explanatory commission”, which consists of lawyers, social workers and psychologists. Multiple meetings with the commission may result in sending for treatment.

      The Commission can take one of the following decisions:

      – fine from 25 to 150 euros;

      – to forbid to occupy posts that assume responsibility for someone else’s life;

      – prohibit visiting night clubs;

      – prohibit traveling abroad;

      – prohibit the carrying of weapons;

      – confiscate all personal drug stocks;

      – to deprive state benefits, if any (very serious, by the way, a measure, since the size of the benefit is close to the minimum wage, that is, it can be a full-fledged source of personal income).

      The measures are quite reasonable – the main task of the commission is to try to motivate a person to treat and to protect the lives of people with whom he, in one way or another, communicates.

      At the same time and everywhere in Portugal dozens of state centers for the provision of assistance, detoxification and psychological rehabilitation of drug addicts work. Opiate drug addicts undergo substitution treatment with methadone and buprenorphine. Regional reintegration programs conduct regular trainings for former drug addicts, help with finding work and housing. Portuguese pharmacies for free exchange used syringes for new ones, as well as issue a set of several syringes, a condom, cotton wool with alcohol and a brochure about rehabilitation. Similar sets are distributed in the streets.

      Decriminalization of drugs in Portugal has led to a sharp decline in the number of HIV-infected people, deaths from overdose and heroin addicts.

      Again! The decriminalization of all drugs has led to a decrease in the number of people using the heaviest of the drugs in question – heroin. In the late 1990s, heroin was used by 100,000 Portuguese people, now – 50,000, many of whom are trying to recover.

      Prior to 2001, Portugal was one of the most problem areas in the European Union with regard to drug addiction and was leading the EU in terms of the number of HIV-infected among drug addicts. In a country with a population of 10 million people, there were 2000 new cases of HIV every year. The highest percentage of AIDS deaths in the EU was also recorded here.

      For 20 years, Portuguese authorities have been fighting drug addiction with standard force methods. Of course, unsuccessfully. And then the government decided to act humanely and at the same time revolutionary. The state decriminalized the storage of all kinds of drugs and began to fight the disease, with drug addiction, and not with people. This is logical. After all, no one is fighting a patient who has a stomach ulcer or flu. Fight disease.

      This is logical, but apparently not all state men are available. In drug addicts, they see not people, but scum, criminals. Although they themselves do not mind indulging in such a drug as alcohol – from beer to whiskey, or such as a cigar…

      The squalidness of the authorities, as a rule, is the main cause of the problems of the inhabitants. It is this, not drugs, weapons, immigrants or