Covered at Reason 24/7: Norwegian Politicians Considering the Decriminalization of Smoking Heroin

The Norwegian government is considering the decriminalization of smoking heroin as a way to reduce the number of overdoses. Norway has one of Europe's highest rates of drug addict deaths.

From AFP:

The Norwegian government said Friday it wants to decriminalise the inhalation of heroin, a method considered less dangerous than injecting it, to reduce the number of overdoses in the country.

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Comments

[AlmightyJB]

Genuine concern (as opposed to manufactured concern to impose statist laws) for citizens. That's the strangest thing I've ever heard. What planet is that?

[InlineSkate]

How enforceable is this, and why not decriminalize it altogether?

I can hear the conversation now. You better of been inhaling that or you're going to get one hell of a fine! *Office proceeds to check for needle marks*

[Spartacus]

If I had to go through a Scandinavian winter, I would be doing lots of heroin too.

[Lyle]

Just take up skiing or something man.

[Spartacus]

I prefer my skiing on warm, melted liquid snow. Behind a fast boat. In the sun.

It's just preference. Hell, I live in south florida and I get depressed in winter. I don't think I would do well up north regardless of how much skiing there is.

[mad libertarian guy]

If I had to live in Norway's "socialist paradise" built on a house of cards, I'd smoke heroin too.

[Lyle]

Has decriminalization worked in other countries with regards to cutting down the number of overdoses? There should be pretty good information on this now.

I was an exchange student in Germany and the police ignored heroin addicts shooting up in the U-bahn stations and I saw a guy OD at the Love Parade.

[InlineSkate]

I believe it was Poland that decriminalized all drugs and had astounding results.

[BakedPenguin]

Portugal.

[InlineSkate]

Yep.

Thanks.