Drug 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.

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.

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.

The core of the problem lies not in users or even small street dealers. It is in bigger fish.

But most of the time there is no profit for politicians in solving the real problem and plenty of risks.

So officials pretend their vitamin is a cure, while it doesn’t even scratch a surface.

There are lots of practical reasons to decriminalise drugs, but the biggest reason is ethical: society has no right to tell anyone what drugs they can take.

It is decriminalized in places cops refuse to go.