When I was studying Law at the University many years ago… the Professor of Criminal Law, Díez Ripolles gave a lecture on the legalization of drugs. We are talking about the late 80s. Time passes but the controversy over this issue is more alive than ever, especially when more and more countries are positioning themselves in favor of drug legalizationsas is the case of Canada (April 2017) and Uruguay (December 2013) that have legalized marijuana. The latter has also allowed the sale of production and consumption.

10 reasons to legalize drugs

1º.- Organized crime would be attacked in one of its fundamental structures

According to Friedman Milton, illegality encourages criminalization since there is no free competition but rather rules imposed by the cartels. Consumers are forced to go through the arena of these groups, they are not free to buy it wherever they want. Prices rise at your discretion without control. In short, legalizing the drug would “almost shut them out.”

2.- Consumption would be reduced. Contrary to what one might think, there are studies carried out in the Netherlands that show that Cannabis usage has been reduced. The Netherlands is one of the first countries to legalize this substance.

3.- The cost of fighting organized crime is very high. If we add police corruption, we add another strong reason in favor of legalization of the drug

4.- People’s health would win, since control would make drugs safe, thus avoiding many deaths. You can see more in the European report on drugs. Diseases like hepatitis and HIV would drastically decrease.

5.- The cases before the court would be reduced, allowing attention to other cases. Likewise, lower the index of related crimes according to the 2017 Spain Report on drugs.

6.- Greater security in many countries.

7.- Education. In the same way that we have been educated about the effects of alcohol, the legalization of cannabis, for example, would help to publicize without hindrance the disadvantages of consuming it, as well as the benefits.

8.- Legalization would reduce the price of drugs, lowering the costs of production and intermediation that prohibition implies. In other words, many people who are addicted to these substances will not have to steal or prostitute themselves to pay the price set by the Cartels.

9.- There are no fundamental rights such as freedom of communication, domicile, etc. I would be in danger.

10.- Citizens would realize that behind a drug addict there is not a criminal but in many cases sick people who made a big mistake.

Countries that have legalized drugs

A) The Netherlands is the country that started the commercialization of marijuana, as well as many other social initiatives. behold the tenure and possession of marijuana constitutes a crime although since 2017 the cultivation seems to have been approved by Congress. There are places where this drug is sold, known as ‘Cafeterias’, which since the Opium Law of 1976 are dedicated to the sale of these products (five grams per person over 18 years of age) and to which this activity is allowed.

B) Uruguay. The legislation says that only Uruguayans can grow Cannabis in their homes and it can only be bought in 30 pharmacies in the country that are ready to sell, at $1.30 (1.13 euros) per gram, much cheaper and better than in the black market. Those who buy will only have to put their finger on a device in the pharmacy. The machine will recognize them as users and will verify that they have not already exceeded the legal limit of 10 grams per week. It is the formula to control it, guaranteeing its anonymity – the pharmacist does not know the name – and also to keep foreigners out. As of 2017, a maximum of 40 grams of marijuana per month can be purchased in some pharmacies in the country with a percentage of between 2 and 4% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive element of cannabis. The central government regulates the granting of licenses for its cultivation and sale, although the mafias that previously dominated it have considerably reduced their activity, some financial entities have threatened to stop operating with pharmacies if they continue to provide this service, which together with some manifestations of international organizations has surrounded the entire process with uncertainty.

c) Despite the historical association that has been made between marijuana and Jamaica, possession in that country implied considerable penalties until 2015. But three years ago (in 2016), the cradle of reggae and the Caribbean island with enviable beaches decriminalized possession in small quantities. both for tourists and residents.

e) USA (United States) in each North American state there is some autonomy for this reason they have allowed in recent years the regulated distribution of marijuana for non-medical use. With the recent legalization of this substance for recreational purposes in California (for cultivation, consumption and commercialization) and also in the territories of Colorado, Washington, Maine, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon and Massachusetts.

f) According to Wikipedia: “In 2001, Portugal became the second country in the European Union after Spain to abolish criminal sanctions for possession of drugs for private and personal use, and users must comply with therapy instead of prison. As a senior official from the Ministry of Health explained: “It is about persecuting the disease, but not the sick, the Portuguese state is against drugs, so their consumption is not prohibited, but we are not against of drug addicts. Thus, once rehabilitated, they can return to normal life without having been detained and, what is more important, without any proof of having been detained, which is vital for, for example, finding work.” Thus, a detained person by the police who carry a number of drugs that do not exceed a certain level are taken before a follow-up commission under the Ministry of Health that will refer them to a detoxification center if necessary, but without criminal record or judicial file. will be brought to court.

Legalizing Drugs in Spain

Now Podemos and Ciudadanos (Both Political Parties) are demonstrating in favor of legalization with the obvious opposition of the PP (another Political Party). The truth is that the jurisprudence in Spain is already beginning to have many positive sentences in favor of possession for consumption, despite the setback suffered by the Cannabis Clubs due to the last sentence of 2015 of the Supreme Court that condemned the president, secretary and treasurer of a club when they prepared the doses of the members