50 sena ta' gwerra tad-drogi ma naqqsux il-konsum.

Id-Drogi Kollha. Regolati. Fil-Farmaċiji.

Kokaina, eroina, MDMA u drogi oħra – suq regolat minflok is-suq l-iswed. Mingħajr adulteranti. Mingħajr kriminalità tal-vizzju. Mingħajr ma l-konsumaturi Ewropej jiffinanzjaw il-kartelli.

6.166
Mwiet mid-drogi fl-UE 2021
87 Mio.
Ċittadini tal-UE użaw
1,6 Mio.
Reati tad-drogi fl-UE 2023
31 Mrd. €
Suq tad-drogi tal-UE/sena

Sorsi: Rapport Ewropew tad-Drogi tal-EUDA, Rapport tas-Swieq tad-Drogi tal-UE tal-EUDA/Europol

"When the US ended alcohol prohibition, Al Capone's empire collapsed. Not because crime disappeared – but because the most lucrative market became legal."

L-istess mudell hu possibbli.
Analiżi

Why Prohibition Has Failed

Current drug policy causes more harm than it prevents. Here is the analysis.

Health Failure

People don't die from drugs – they die from illegality. Unknown dosages, contamination, lack of medical help.

  • Fentanyl Crisis: Synthetic opioids are increasingly being mixed into other substances – without users' knowledge.
  • Adulterants: From synthetic cannabinoids to toxic additives – the illegal market has no quality control.
  • Dosage Uncertainty: Every batch can have different potency. What was safe yesterday can be lethal today.
Objection: Doesn't regulation lead to more use?

Evidence shows the opposite: Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001 – use didn't increase, and among youth it actually decreased. The Netherlands has lower cannabis use rates than Germany despite coffeeshops.

Homelessness and rotting wounds are not inevitable.

In many European cities, necrotic wounds come from contaminated street drugs and infected injection sites. Cutting agents like lidocaine or levamisole destroy vessels and tissue.

People with alcohol dependence consume a regulated, taxed product. Even when homeless they buy legal substances without unknown additives — they do not die from adulterants, do not lose limbs to contaminated poison, and still contribute to the commons through taxes.

Regulation means: pure substances instead of street poison, medical oversight instead of necrosis, revenue instead of downstream costs.

Social Failure

Regulation means: tax revenue instead of cartel profits, professional counseling instead of anonymous street dealing, preventive healthcare instead of emergency medicine.

Today: Black Market

€31+ Mrd.

annually to cartels in the EU

With Regulation

Tax Revenue

for prevention, therapy, education

Source: EUDA/Europol EU Drug Markets Report – estimated annual revenue of the illegal EU drug market.

Stigma Prevents Help

People with addiction problems hide out of fear of social ostracism. They seek help only when it's almost too late – or not at all. In a regulated system, they could openly seek support before the spiral begins – from professionals, not on the street.

Objection: Shouldn't society reject drug use?

Rejection and prohibition are not the same. We socially reject smoking – yet tobacco is legal and regulated. The result: smoking rates have been declining for decades. Honest education and health policy work better than bans.

The Problem Today: Alcohol and Tobacco Next to Bread

Even for legal drugs our system fails: highly toxic alcohol and tobacco are sold in supermarkets next to bread. No entrance age filter, no mandatory counselling, cheap bulk offers. Serious regulation would move these products into specialised outlets with age checks and advice – exactly what we propose for all substances.

Enforcement Failure

"You cannot fight cartels while funding them."

The Prohibition Paradox:

  • High Prices: Prohibition keeps prices artificially high – extreme profit margins
  • Risk Priced In: Seizures and arrests are calculated business costs
  • Constant Demand: 50 years of drug war haven't reduced consumption
  • Violence Guaranteed: Illegal markets are regulated with guns instead of lawyers
Objection: Organized crime always exists – regulation won't solve it

True. But we choose which markets to leave them. When the US ended alcohol prohibition, Al Capone's empire collapsed. Not because crime disappeared – but because the most lucrative market became legal. The same pattern is possible.

Il-Punt Għama

Għaliex id-dibattitu qatt ma jitkellem dwar ir-regolament

F'kull dokumentarju dwar il-kriminalità tad-drogi, nisimgħu: „M'hemmx soluzzjoni." Qatt ma tingħata lanqas nofs sentenza lill-possibiltà li r-regolament reali jista' jneħħi l-poter lill-kartelli.

L-eżempju tal-Olanda

Minkejja t-tolleranza tal-coffeeshops, il-gangs tad-drogi huma estremament b'saħħithom, jinfiltraw l-istat u joqtlu ċivili. Ir-raġuni: il-katina tal-provvista tibqa' illegali.

Nofs-sistema żżomm il-kartelli ħajjin

It-"tolleranza" Olandiża mhix regolament – hi nofs-sistema. Sakemm il-produzzjoni u l-bejgħ bl-ingrossa jibqgħu illegali, il-kartelli jibqgħu fin-negozju.

L-eżempju tal-Iżvezja

L-Iżvezja tagħżel it-triq opposta: l-aktar repressjoni iebsa, aktar pulizija, deportazzjonijiet aktar malajr. Ir-riżultat? Il-vjolenza tal-gangs tibqa' għolja, jiġu rreklutatmi minorenni, il-problema tiċċaqlaq minflok tisparixxu. Tagħti aktar iebes mingħajr regolament tiġġieled mas-sintomi, mhux mal-kawżi.

Ir-regolament reali jfisser:

  • Produzzjoni legali taħt kontroll tal-istat
  • Bejgħ bl-ingrossa legali b'kontroll tal-kwalità
  • Bejgħ legali fil-farmaċiji
  • Il-kartelli jitilfu s-suq kollu

Biss meta l-katina tal-provvista kollha tkun legali nistgħu verament neħħu l-poter mill-kriminalità organizzata.

Solution

How Regulation Works

Regulation is not promotion. We regulate dangerous things not because we want to promote them – but because control protects better than prohibition.

Alcohol Medications Regulated Model
Age Limit ✓✓
Quality Control ✓✓
Advertising Ban ✓✓
Mandatory Consultation ✓✓
Medical Monitoring ✓✓

✓✓ = Stricter control than alcohol

The Five Pillars of Regulation

Quality Control

Pharmaceutical-grade substances with known dosing. No adulterants, no unknown additives.

Medical Support

Initial medical consultation, regular health checks, direct access to therapy options.

Age Control

Strict age verification. Dealers don't ask for ID – licensed sales points do.

Prevention Funding

Tax revenue flows into education, prevention and therapy instead of cartel coffers.

Privacy

Medical confidentiality. No central consumer registry. No data sharing with police or employers.

What Does NOT Happen

  • No central consumer registry
  • No data sharing with police
  • No employer access
  • No driver's license linking

What IS Guaranteed

  • Medical confidentiality
  • Independent oversight
  • Purpose-limited health data
  • Anonymous statistics

The Process in 4 Steps

1. Registration

Anonymous registration at a licensed sales point. Initial medical consultation.

2. Counseling

Risk education. Regular health checks. Access to therapy.

3. Sale

Pharmaceutical-grade substances are sold with defined dosing and quality control.

4. Funding

Tax revenue for prevention, therapy, research.

Taxes, Subsidies, Solidarity

Regulated sales mean: the state collects taxes, can subsidize prices if needed, and takes responsibility for vulnerable people – because less crime and no blood money are in everyone's own interest.

  • Sales are taxed and finance prevention, treatment and social services.
  • State price control can undercut dealers and dry up the black market.
  • Less crime and no blood money are a moral self-interest for the whole society.
Evidence

International Case Studies

Regulation is not theory – it's practiced worldwide. Here are the results.

🇨🇭 Switzerland Heroin Program since 1994

Severely heroin-addicted receive pharmaceutical-grade heroin under medical supervision. The program has been running for 30 years.

The Model:

  • Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) for severely addicted
  • Pharmaceutically pure heroin under medical supervision
  • Daily visits to specialized clinics
  • Integrated into comprehensive treatment program
↓↓
Acquisitive Crime
↑↑
Social Integration
↑↑
Health
Saves
Cost-Benefit
🇵🇹 Portugal Decriminalization since 2001

All drugs decriminalized. Possession of small amounts is no longer a crime. Instead: referral to "Dissuasion Commissions". Focus on health, not punishment.

Low
Drug Deaths (EU comparison)
↓↓
HIV Infections
↑↑
Treatments
Incarcerations
🇳🇱 Netherlands Coffeeshops since 1976

"Gedoogbeleid" – Tolerance policy for cannabis. Licensed coffeeshops may sell up to 5g. Strict rules: No advertising, no minors, no hard drugs. Result: Cannabis use below EU average.

🇨🇦 Canada Legalization since 2018

First G7 country with full cannabis legalization. Federal legalization with provincial implementation. Strict quality controls. Result: Black market continuously shrinking, tax revenue rising.

What Research Shows

Use Patterns

Adult use rises modestly, youth use remains broadly stable. Retail density, pricing and prevention are decisive.

Health & Safety

ER visits increase with edibles/high potency products. Governance (THC caps, testing) reduces risk.

Illegal Markets

Cannabis seizures at US border dropped up to 80% since 2013. But cartels shifted to fentanyl, heroin, and meth – that's why regulation must cover ALL drugs.

Scientific Sources

EUDA

EU Drugs Agency

euda.europa.eu →

Johns Hopkins-Lancet Commission

Drug Policy and Public Health

thelancet.com →

Transform

Regulation Models & Evidence

transformdrugs.org →
Global Responsibility

Europe's Footprint

Every euro for illegal drugs funds violence – somewhere in the world. Europe shares responsibility.

The Money Flow

🇪🇺 €31B/Year

European Drug Market

Cartel Profits

Weapons Corruption Deforestation Violence

Weaken Cartels

Cannabis legalization works: US border seizures dropped up to 80%. But cartels shift to other drugs – only comprehensive regulation removes all their markets.

Reduce Violence

In Mexico, over 30,000 homicides are recorded annually; organized crime contributes substantially.

Protect Environment

Illegal cocaine production drives large-scale deforestation in Colombia; chemicals contaminate rivers and groundwater.

Human Rights

Cartels use forced labor for production and transport. Women and children are exploited in production areas.

Ir-repressjoni ma taħdimx

L-Iżvezja turi f'ħin reali: anke l-miżuri l-aktar iebsa ma jwaqqfux il-kriminalità tal-gangs sakemm is-suq jibqa' illegali u li jagħmel profitt. Il-mantra "aktar iebes, aktar malajr, deporta" mhix soluzzjoni – hija ġlieda mas-sintomi mingħajr ma tfejjaq il-marda.

Affected Regions

🌎

Latin America

Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia – cartel violence, corruption

🌍

West Africa

Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Nigeria – transit routes, destabilization

🌏

Southeast Asia

Myanmar, Laos, Thailand – Golden Triangle, human trafficking

Objection: Can we really solve other countries' problems?

It's not about solving their problems – it's about not causing them. Without European demand, there would be no incentive for this violence. We know this principle from conflict minerals and fair trade.

Geopolitical Context

UN Conventions and Europe's Options

The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and subsequent UN conventions forced countries worldwide into a prohibition regime that ignored local traditions and prioritized Western interests.

Countries that refused risked sanctions and exclusion from trade agreements.

Can Europe Resist US Pressure?

✓ Yes, and it's already happening

  • Germany 2024: Cannabis legalization despite international pressure
  • Netherlands: Tolerated coffeeshops for 50 years
  • Portugal 2001: Decriminalization of all drugs
  • Switzerland: Heroin prescription programs since 1994

Why It Works

  • Economic power: The EU is the world's largest single market – the US cannot simply impose sanctions
  • Precedents: Uruguay and Canada fully legalized without consequences
  • US shift: 24 US states have legalized cannabis themselves – moral authority is crumbling (DISA)

The European Path

Europe doesn't need to wait for UN reforms. The path is clear:

1. Lead nationally

Individual EU countries can lead the way and develop models for regulating all drugs – step by step.

2. EU coordination

Successful national models can be harmonized through EU mechanisms.

3. Reform UN conventions

With a united EU front, the outdated conventions can be reformed in the medium term.

Objection: Won't we lose credibility by ignoring UN treaties?

The UN drug conventions are from 1961 – before the moon landing, before the internet, before the HIV crisis. They were never updated, despite overwhelming evidence against prohibition. Credibility comes from following science – not clinging to failed dogmas. The US itself no longer follows them. Why should Europe?

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Safety & Health

L-evidenza turi bil-kontra. Il-Portugall iddekrimalizza d-drogi kollha fl-2001 – il-konsum ma żdiedx, u fost iż-żgħażagħ anke naqas. L-Olanda għandha rata ta' użu tal-kannabis anqas minn ħafna pajjiżi b'projbizzjoni stretta, minkejja l-coffeeshops. Il-konsum jiddependi fuq fatturi soċjali, mhux fuq l-istatus legali.
Is-sitwazzjoni attwali hi l-agħar protezzjoni taż-żgħażagħ: il-pusher ma jitolbux ID. Suq regolat b'verifika stretta tal-età, punti ta' bejgħ ikkontrollati u edukazzjoni onesta jipproteġi ż-żgħażagħ aħjar mis-suq l-iswed.
L-Isvizzera qed tagħmlu mill-1994. Nies b'dipendenza severa jirċievu eroina farmaċewtikament pura taħt superviżjoni medika. Riżultat: il-kriminalità tal-proprjetà għabet, is-saħħa tjiebet, l-integrazzjoni soċjali hi possibbli. In-nies imorru għax-xogħol, mhux jisirqu. Il-programm jiffranka flus lill-istat u jsalva l-ħajjiet. Mhux ġenn – ġenn hu dak li qed nagħmlu issa.
Il-vizzju hu marda li tiddependi fuq ħafna fatturi – ġenetika, trawmi, sitwazzjoni soċjali. L-istatus legali mhux determinanti. Imma: f'sistema regolata nilħqu n-nies affettwati aktar kmieni, nistgħu noffru għajnuna u niffinanzjaw il-prevenzjoni.

Crime & Security

Bil-kontra: qed inneħħu l-bażi tan-negozju tagħhom. Il-projbizzjoni hi l-aħjar programm ta' appoġġ għall-kartelli – tiggarantixxi prezzijiet għoljin u profitti monopolistiċi. Ir-regolament jeqred dan il-mudell. Il-pulizija tista' tiffoka fuq kriminalità vera, mhux li taqbad utenti.
Il-legalizzazzjoni tal-kannabis tipprova li taħdem: il-qabdiet tal-kannabis fil-fruntiera tal-Istati Uniti naqsu sa 80%. Imma l-kartelli marru għall-fentanyl, l-eroina u l-metamfetamina. Dan jipprova: BISS ir-regolament tad-drogi KOLLHA jneħħi s-swieq tagħhom kompletament. Dan għandu jiġi kkumbinat ma' politika ta' żvilupp u ktejjen tal-provvista ġusti.

Society & Morality

Nibagħtu sinjal onest: id-drogi huma riskjużi, għalhekk nirregolawhom. Dan hu aktar kredibbli mill-ipokrezija attwali, fejn l-alkoħol u t-tabakk – l-aktar drogi perikolużi – huma legali, imma drogi oħra jibqgħu pprojbiti. Iż-żgħażagħ jaraw kontra l-kontradizzjonijiet. L-edukazzjoni onesta taħdem aħjar mill-propaganda tal-projbizzjoni.

Implementation

Ir-regolament jiffinanzja lilu nnifsu. Bħalissa 31+ biljun ewro fis-sena jmorru għall-kartelli – mingħajr kontroll tal-kwalità, mingħajr dħul mit-taxxa. Bir-regolament tad-drogi kollha: dħul mit-taxxa għall-prevenzjoni, terapija u edukazzjoni. L-esperjenza bikrija bis-swieq legali turi: l-ishma tas-suq l-iswed jonqsu, id-dħul mit-taxxa jiżdied.
Hemm mudelli li jaħdmu: il-Portugall mill-2001, il-programm tal-eroina tal-Isvizzera mill-1994, il-legalizzazzjoni tal-kannabis tal-Kanada mill-2018. M'għandniex għalfejn nirreventaw ir-rota – nistgħu nitgħallmu mill-esperjenza.

Critical Objections

L-istat diġà qiegħed fin-negozju tad-drogi – ibiegħ l-alkoħol u t-tabakk, li flimkien jikkawżaw aktar minn 200,000 mewt fis-sena fl-UE. Il-mistoqsija mhix jekk l-istat jirregola d-drogi, imma liema. Bħalissa jħalli s-sustanzi l-aktar perikolużi lill-kartelli mingħajr kontroll tal-kwalità, mingħajr protezzjoni taż-żgħażagħ u mingħajr servizzi ta' għajnuna. Ir-regolament mhux «lagħab il-pusher» – hu li tieħu responsabbiltà, mhux tħares band'oħra.
Veru: id-drogi huma perikolużi. Imma n-nies jużawhom xorta waħda – 87 miljun Ewropew għamlu hekk. Il-mistoqsija hi: Qed jaffaċċjaw saħħa mhux magħrufa u adulteranti fit-triq, jew qed jirċievu sustanzi ta' kwalità farmaċewtika taħt superviżjoni medika? Fl-2021, 6,166 persuna fl-UE mietu minn overdose; ir-riskji ġejjin mill-opjojdi, użu ta' poli-droga, saħħa varjabbli u kontaminazzjoni. Ir-regolament inaqqas dawn ir-riskji permezz ta' standards u konsulenza.
L-unions tal-pulizija u l-aġenziji tas-sigurtà għandhom interess istituzzjonali fl-istatus quo: il-baġits, il-pożizzjonijiet, is-setgħat jiddependu mill-«gwerra tad-drogi». Dan mhux akkuża – hu loġika sistematika. Imma l-uffiċjali tal-pulizija fuq il-post spiss jgħidu l-kontra: huma frustrati li jaqbdu l-istess utenti żgħar ripetutament waqt li l-kriminalità vera tibqa' mingħajr soluzzjoni. Staqsi l-ħaddiema, mhux il-funzjonarji.
L-argument jinstema' loġiku, imma r-realtà tikkontradixxih: 87 miljun Ewropew użaw drogi illegali – il-barriera b'mod ċar mhix għolja biżżejjed. U: xi ħadd fi kriżi llum isib drogi – biss kontaminati, mingħajr konsulenza, mingħajr offerti ta' għajnuna. F'sistema regolata l-istess persuna tirċievi sustanza ta' kwalità farmaċewtika, b'konsulenza inizjali obbligatorja, referenza għal servizzi ta' appoġġ u kontrolli tas-saħħa regolari. Il-farmaċija mhix bieb għat-telfien – hi post fejn l-għajnuna tista' tibda. Il-pusher ma joffrux dan.
Il-Verità Vera

Ir-regolament mhux utopja.

Hu spostament mill-kaos għas-sistemi.

Id-dinja ta' wara hi:

— anqas viżibbilment krudili
— anqas spekulattivament fatali
— imma wkoll anqas komdu biex tinjora

Ma tistax aktar tidher li xejn minn dan «ma jikkonċerniex lilna».

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Eight black-and-white posters in the campaign style. Available in A4, A3, A2, A1 and A0 – from home printing to large format. Select size in the poster, save as PDF and print.

All drugs.
Regulated.
In pharmacies.

Open PDF A4–A0 · Black & White

6,166 drug deaths
EU 2021.
Zero quality control.

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87M Europeans
have used drugs.
Black market?

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1.6M
Drug offenses EU 2023.
Public resources?

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€31B
EU drug market per year.
Cartels cash in.

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0% adulterants
guaranteed.
Only in pharmacies.

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Regulation is
not a utopia.
It's a system.

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You see them.
Rotting wounds.
This is prohibition.

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Sample Letter to Representatives

Copy this letter and customize the marked sections.

Għażiż/a [ISEM],

Qed niktiblek bħala ċittadin imħasseb minn [BELT/KOSTITUENZA].

Il-politika attwali tad-drogi ssuq lill-utenti lejn swieq illegali. Hemm jixtru mingħand kriminali sustanzi b'kompożizzjoni u doża mhux magħrufa – spiss f'kundizzjonijiet perikolużi. Kull sena, eluf imutu minn kontaminazzjoni u overdose li jistgħu jiġu evitati permezz ta' kontroll tal-kwalità.

Fl-istess ħin, aktar minn 30 biljun ewro fis-sena jaslu f'idejn il-kartej – flus li jiffinanzjaw vjolenza, korruzzjoni u instabbiltà f'pajjiżi produtturi, filwaqt li l-istat jirrinunzja dħul mit-taxxa.

F'dokumentarji u rapporti dwar kriminalità tad-droga dejjem nisimgħu: "M'hemm l-ebda soluzzjoni." Madankollu qatt ma jingħata lanqas nofs sentenza biex jiġi kkunsidrat li regolamentazzjoni vera – b'produzzjoni legali, bejgħ bl-ingrossa legali u bejgħ legali – tista' tneħħi l-poter mill-kartej. Dan il-punt għomja fid-dibattitu għandu jieqaf.

Is-soluzzjoni: Suq kompletament regolamentat b'bejgħ ikkontrollat ta' drogi kollha f'ispizeriji jew ħwienet speċjalizzati liċenzjati. Dan il-mudell jista':
• Isalva ħajjiet permezz ta' kwalità farmaċewtika u dożaġġ korrett
• Jieħu s-suq kollu mill-kartej – mhux biss il-bejgħ bl-imnut
• Jiġġenera biljuni f'dħul mit-taxxa għall-prevenzjoni u t-terapija
• Jippermetti pariri u skoperta bikrija permezz ta' professjonisti mħarrġa

Nitolbok tappoġġja suq tad-droga kompletament regolamentat – b'protezzjoni tas-saħħa minflok suq iswed.

B'rispett,
[L-ISMEK]
[L-INDIRIZZ TIEGĦEK]

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