Why SA should follow Portugal and decriminalise drug use

Whoonga users are the low hanging fruit that the police target to ensure that their arrests rates look good
The Conversation (US)
Friday, March 17, 2017

sa whoonga crowdThe war on drugs in South Africa, as in the US, has in no way reduced the supply or the demand of drugs. And without a doubt it’s led to an increase in the harms associated with drugs as users once incarcerated and left with a criminal record become increasingly marginalised. The majority of those apprehended were either in possession of, or using, a drug called “whoonga”. Decriminalisation of drug use and possession sounds radical and counter-intuitive, but the evidence from Portugal speaks for itself, says Monique Marks. (See also: Whoonga is the cruelest high)