The lawyer and professor of Criminal Law at the University of São Paulo (USP), Pierpaolo Bottini, said in an interview with CNN this Thursday (27) that the decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to decriminalize the use of marijuana gives the opportunity for addicts to seek health treatments.
According to Bottini, “by removing criminal law, you facilitate access to public health and care programs that need to be developed for this portion of the population.”
Distinction between user and dealer
The professor explained that the Supreme Court did not legalize drug use, but merely differentiated between drug users and drug dealers. “The president of the Supreme Court did not legalize drug use, he only said that this is not subject to criminal law, so using drugs is not a crime,” he explained.
Bottini highlighted that, despite being decriminalized, drug use remains illicit and, if a person is caught carrying or consuming marijuana in public, the drug will be seized by the police. However, the user will not be criminalized, but rather referred to public health programs.
Facilitate access to treatments
According to the lawyer, decriminalization of use facilitates access to treatment for problematic users or addicts, without the fear of being involved in criminal investigations. “If you happen to have a child with drug and addiction problems, it is much better not to be criminalized, because you will have the opportunity to take them to a hospital and seek treatment,” he explained.
Bottini also highlighted that Brazil is one of the last countries in Latin America to decriminalize drug use, following the line of countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia and Venezuela, in addition to several US states and Portugal.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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