| Hans-Günter Meyer-Thompson | International
Portugal. Portugal decriminalized drugs 25 years ago, but the real lesson is what it built around this policy
Portugal. Portugal decriminalized drugs 25 years ago, but the real lesson is what it built around this policy
(…) 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Portugal’s landmark decision to decriminalize the possession of all drugs for personal use. This is one of the world’s longest-running efforts to center public health and harm reduction in national drug policy.
As a criminologist and a political scientist, we have spent the past three years teaching a course on drug policy and harm reduction in Portugal, bringing dozens of students to the country to study its approach firsthand. That experience has given us a close look at both the promise and the limitations of the Portuguese model. (The Conversation, Frankreich, 14.09.2026)