Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?

I've read about the "coffee shops", in Holland, they are shops that offers cannabis . If you want to buy a cup of real coffee, you have to go to "café." I can't believe that such shops can just stand on the street and sell what is regarded as forbidden drug to us. However on the second thought, I guess they don't think it a big deal to get hypotized as a mean to acquire relief from stress as long as the civilian don't do themselves harm or commit crime because of that. In that way, the effect of cannabis works the same as coffee and tea—to relieve our stress or to perk us up. It being forbidden is just based on different view point. Speaking of forbidden, I think it's a smart move to ecriminalize drug using and possessing. First it's psychology, we all know one would more want to have a taste of what is forbidden. If the drug is no longer prohibited, the maze that outshines the harm would disapear and the evilness be seen more clearly. Secondly, it's about the efficiency, the Portugal goverment budget the money for healing instead of jail, which cost money without curing the addicted, is very helpful to cut down the drug using rate ,and moreover, is the opportuniy to provide jobs to the psychologist. Third, They can further use the money saved to education the people about the harmful side effect of doing drugs as the prevention. Sometimes the best solution could be the one seems the most improper. The ou-of-the-box policy goes works well till now. I hope the future drug using situation in Portugal will be still optimistic.