It's time: Legalise cannabis
Legalising drugs is the future !
Volt wants to:
Decriminalise possession of euphoriant substances for personal use completely
Remove the stigma of drug users
Work towards legalising the use of drugs in the long run
In other countries, decriminalisation of all types of euphoriant substances has taken control away from organised crime. This means that we as a society can look forward to:
Fewer drugs addicts in Denmark
Fewer drug addicts overall
Socio-economic benefit in the long run
Our current legislation has failed in its attempt to stop people from taking drugs.
The hoped-for drop in drug use has not materialised.
For example, 33% of young people have used cannabis and 11% have tried other euphoriant substances according to the Danish Health Authority.
In Denmark, the legislation primarily benefits criminal organisations because it turns the state into an enemy rather than a helping hand out of addiction. This means that people who want to get out of addiction don't feel they can go to the state for help. Our proposal will address the desire for fewer drug users in society.
As we can see from Portugal's results, when they decriminalised all drugs, it led to a decrease in addiction and drug users in general. Fewer addicts in society means fewer resources need to be spent on treating them, and former addicts can become active members of society. Our policy will build trust between the state and the people so that we can help those who really need it. We don't believe that addicts are problems, but people just like the rest of us.
Legalising and de-criminalisation - what is the difference?
In Volt, we are open to legalising euphoriant drugs in the long run.
Portugal's model merely decriminalises the possession of drugs. This means that it is still a criminal offence to import, sell and make drugs. With the legalisation of euphoriant drugs, this will change. When shops and producers don't have to hide from the authorities, the state will be able to regulate the market as it does with all other markets. This way, we can ensure that people who take drugs get the pure product, which will reduce poisoning. In addition, the state will be able to target campaigns towards drug users and help addicts much earlier. Furthermore, legalisation will have an overriding effect on organised crime, which currently relies on drugs being illegal.
Finally, legalisation will also mean that the state can tax drugs, which will provide additional revenue that can be used for further campaigns targeting drug users.
At the moment, legalisation is not possible. Despite the very clear benefits of legalising drugs, Denmark, along with over 100 other countries, has signed up to UN conventions that attempt to stifle the drug industry in the same way our current legislation does. In addition, Denmark is too small a voice on its own to push international agendas. But as it is Volt's policy across the EU, Volt has an advantage. We can bring together unprecedented coalitions across countries and speak with one voice. Our political project will make the EU a powerful force in the fight to change outdated UN conventions and take back control from organised crime.
Sources
Retsinformation.dk. CIR1H nr 9166 af 20/03/2020
United Nations. (1988)
United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.Greenwald, G. (2009). Drug Decriminalization in Portugal.
Havard Health Publishing. (2022, September 19).
The popularity of microdosing of psychedelics: What does the science say?Sundhedsstyrelsen. (2022, March 16). Udbredelse af illegale stoffer i befolkningen og blandt de unge.
European Drug Reports - European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction.