This is the kind of quality comment we expect from Reason. However, what Portugal is able to do may not import well to the U.S. because of our size, number and diversity. Moreover we dread a cultural drift toward the turn on, tune in, drop out attitude. We prize learning, diligence and productivity, values that can be undermined by psychoactive drug use. But, criminally punishing drug users is absurdly pointless and inhumane. Changing from the criminal law paradigm to that of public health concerns and providing a regulated channel for adult drug use would foreseeably destroy the market for the millions of small time drug dealers who are so accessible to our teenagers, and offer a more successful opportunity for abusers and addicts to seek sobriety, while still maintaining a measure of societal control. Anybody want to argue with that?