Drug Decriminalization

Where I live, there has been some recent changes made towards decriminalising all drugs.

Personally, I feel this is a populist policy. Why? I feel like there is no literature to support the notion that decriminilisation will lead to fewer drug users overall - and hence fewer drug addicts. It seems more a policy aimed at looking after current addicts, with little or no thought towards prevention.

I note that Singapore is a nation that has effectively dealt with the drug problem.

What are some opinions/thoughts? With emphasis on unbiased studies that have looked at before/after decriminalization.

The goal is not necessarily to minimize number of drug users, it is to prevent people dying from overdoses (or other secondary issues like diseases), either because they have to hide their drug use or because there is no access to "safe" drugs (the drug your expecting, consumed in a sanitary way). Also, decriminalization can remove organized crime, violence, and other criminal activity from the equation, and make it less complicated to address drug abuse. The idea that it's just about reducing "addicts" is flawed. Decriminalization doesn't mean society thinks drug use is good, it's just the least bad option.

We tried punishing drug users as strongly as possibly. It didn't work, and had a ton on bad consequences. Now we are trying different types of leniency. I'm sure it will work better.

I notice that you did not cite any citations for articles against leniency. Really, it's difficult to prove one way or the other since no solution has worked well yet.

I would rather go to a (legal) cannabis dispensary than buy weed from the criminal underworld (which is sometimes dangerous). Regarding dispensaries, there is the harm reduction aspect and I know what I'm getting. Street weed could be sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids and other chemicals to increase its potency. Street weed could also be laced with rat poison for all I know.

If you want to prevent people dying of overdoses, then stopping people from starting would achieve that. “Decriminalization” is about treating the symptoms rather than the problem.