Portugal: the country's leading party in favor of legalizing cannabis

The Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest party in Parliament, supports full regulation of cannabis.

At the party's national conference on February 17, the party a approuvé a majority vote in favor of the «responsible legalization» of cannabis consumption in Portugal, with the aim of selling cannabis in pharmacies to curb illegal trafficking.

«We mustn't forget that cannabis accounts for half the income of traffickers worldwide,» said Ricardo Baptista Leite, MP and member of the Parliamentary Health Committee. «Globally, this represents a $150 billion market, and stopping illegal cannabis activities puts an end to part of the global criminal activity.».

The legalization proposal aims to regulate the production and distribution of cannabis. People over the age of 21 would be allowed to buy it. Taxes collected on sales would be reused to bolster the budgets of police forces and criminal investigations involved in the fight against drug trafficking.»

Portugal was the the first European country to fully decriminalize all drugs in 2001. Today, he is the first in Europe to advocate the idea of full regulation of cannabis.

«Before looking at the facts, I was personally resistant to the idea of legalization, not least because of the preconceived ideas linked to the potential risks of consumption on mental health,» explains Baptista Leite. à Talking Drugs.

«After reading all the scientific evidence, it became clear to me that with strict regulations we can reduce the risks associated with the use of this drug, protecting citizens and societies at least to the same level as we do with cigarettes and alcohol. In fact, it's clear that by limiting THC consumption, prohibiting all forms of synthetic or manipulated drugs, and imposing a 21-year limit, we can avoid the risks of cannabis-induced schizophrenia and other potential mental health damage. All packaging should carry clear warnings and a description of the contents, and it should be forbidden to sell edibles or consume cannabis in public places, while driving or at work».

He continues: «Legal cannabis products should be priced in line with the black market to encourage consumers to stop buying their drugs from dealers, and thus move towards an end to the illicit market.»