Sweden's zero-tolerance drug policy should be reviewed: narcotics officer
The EU's drugs monitoring centre ranked Sweden as the country with the second highest rate of drugs fatalities
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Sweden's current policy is based on the goal of a "drug-free society" and makes no distinction between "hard" and "soft" drugs. Those found guilty of possession or usage can face fines and a mark on their criminal record, sanctions that Lennart Karlsson, chairman of the Swedish Narcotics Police Officers Association (Svenska narkotikapolisföreningen) argued were counter-productive. "The most vulnerable people in society who have addiction problems often have economic problems and no way of paying. Giving them fines is ineffectual," Karlsson told SVT Nyheter. Instead, he argued that more money should be invested in treating addictions -- though he doesn't support a complete removal of the sanctions. (See also: Number of cannabis users in Sweden hits all-time high)
