Comparison between Italian and Portuguese legislation

The main purpose of the Italian drug law aims at penalising, punishing and deterring young consumers of drugs, without giving the right importance to rehabilitation. A comparison between Italian and Portoguese legislation clearly shows that drug prohibition only is not a solution.

Some have mentioned that the legislations were very similar. Although this may be true on paper, the two legislations have given very different results in practice.

One of the major differences, for examples, is that the main actor intervening in drug legislation is the Minister of Health in Portugal, whereas it is the Minister of Interior in Italy. As a consequence, the two laws have led to the establishment of very different sets of objectives, and have had different results. For more information, please click here or here.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.