Requiem for the war on drugs. The Portuguese experiment of decriminalisation

The evolution of the consumption and the control systems of drugs is widely different among the countries. The same differences could be also found in the current experiences of drug decriminalization. The author using historical and empirical data concerning the "Portuguese Experimentation" argue that we are presently observing the end of "drug war". Can the drug consumption be regulated outside the penal law? This paper presents an analysis of the data from the Portuguese experience that positively answers to that question. In addition, this analysis suggests that the decriminalization do not leads to an increase on public health problems and crime.