Argentina's Supreme Court has struck a massive blow for personal freedom, basically accepting the argument that every libertarian has been making on drugs for years now, personal freedom that does not hurt others!
BUENOS AIRES – Criminal penalties for possession of drugs for personal use are unconstitutional, Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, overturning the convictions of five people who were arrested with several marijuana joints.
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The judges based their ruling on the Argentine Constitution, which establishes – they said – that “each adult individual is sovereign to make free decisions about the lifestyle he or she desires without the state’s being able to interfere in that ambit.”
“It is not acceptable to penalize private conduct that does not cause danger or damage to third parties,” the decision said.
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linkThere is heaps of
coverage at google news.
At the same time there have been
interesting developments in Mexico:
Late last week, the Mexican government, trying explicitly not to call too much attention to what it was doing, decriminalized the possession of very small amounts of illicit drugs. Not just marijuana, which is subject to a possession limit of five grams, but the whole kaboodle: cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, even heroin.
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The idea is to cut into demand by treating addicts as potential treatment clients rather than criminals, to fight corruption among the police by taking away one of their major tools for shaking down the poor and marginalized, and to concentrate resources on organized crime.
It feels like there has been a sudden outbreak of common sense!
