Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing

Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing Portugal decriminalised the use of all drugs in 2001. Weed, cocaine, heroin, you name it — Portugal decided to treat possession and use of small quantities of these drugs as a public health issue, not a criminal one. The drugs were still illegal, of course. But now getting caught with them meant a small fine and maybe a referral to a treatment program — not jail time and a criminal record. The Independent