Norway has voted to decriminalise drug use

News

Norway has voted to decriminalise drug use

29 December 2017

By Jasmine Kent-Smith

Illegal drugs could soon be decriminalised in Norway thanks to a recent vote within the Norwegian Parliament.

The vote saw four out of nine parties vote in favour of the act, which would see decrimalisation of illegal drugs across the country. The Labor Party, Socialist Left, Conservatives and Liberals voted in support of the move, making up 133 out of 175 parliamentary seats.

Nicolas Wilinson, health spokesman for the Socialist Left, explained to Norwegian publication VG: "The majority will stop punishing people who struggle, but instead give them help and treatment.”.

The decriminalisation would mark a shift in attitudes surrounding the treatment of illegal drugs and their users. While the substances themselves would still remain illegal, users would be provided with rehabilitation in place of jail time for larger offences.

Thumbnail: Wikimedia Commons CC Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet