The President of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, also spoke at the opening ceremony in Madeira of the extension of the Scientific Police laboratory, highlighting the commitment of the Judicial Police (PJ) in identifying the problem of new psychoactive drugs.
José Manuel Rodrigues said that he expects to be able to follow today’s presentation with a discussion of the new law in the Assembly of the Republic. He stressed that moving towards legislating the same for traffickers and consumers is dangerous, and therefore, argued that distinctions must be made. As did the President of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque.
The Minister of Justice said today that the Santo da Serra Educational Centre will be available for the internment of people who consume drugs, once the protocol has been signed. It will also change its name from the Santo da Serra Educational Centre to Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit.
During the inauguration of the new Scientific Police Laboratory, the minister said that this investment covered several measures, especially the training of those who work in the institution. He referred to the fact that we are dealing with a very worrying phenomenon and said that it was clear that there was difficulty in identifying some of the new psychoactive drugs.
The draft proposals are currently in the Assembly of the Republic, and are aimed at equating the legal-criminal treatment of all drugs, the so-called classic and psychotropic, criminalising their trafficking and decriminalising their consumption.
Concluding, he added:
“This is positive progress in the fight against this scourge that will allow, as all those responsible agree, better and more quickly prevent and punish the trafficking of these substances, and better separate, as is imperative, the fight against criminals, who live on other people’s misfortune. Through this, we can treat the social and health problems related to drug use, through drug victim support.”
“I am convinced that these are safe steps that, combined with the permanent effort of the judicial and security authorities, will allow Funchal and the Autonomous Region of Madeira to create a safe and secure environment.”
Samantha Gannon
