I've watched how the stigma of drug use creates criminals out of individuals who should, more correctly, be seen as patients. It is my belief that drug use doesn’t automatically make one a bad person, no different than when a doctor prescribes medication. Yet, the government exercises its power and penalizes drug users while frequently granting leniency to those who inform on others, leading to a dangerous cycle of betrayal, distrust, and in some cases - death.

Take the case of Ferguson, for example. The city is tirelessly fighting an escalating drug problem. However, the lines of justice are blurred as arrest rates decrease for those willing to turn others in (NY Times, 2016). It's not just Ferguson; it's a nationwide problem. On a global scale, countries like Portugal tackle the issue from a different angle. Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, and has since seen a dramatic decrease in drug-related deaths, the rate is now at 3 deaths per million residents, compared to the European average of 17.3 (European Drug Report, 2020).

We must question the morality in our system where snitching trumps personal safety, where patients are termed as criminals. We cannot keep pushing our people to the fringes of society, making them choose between betrayal and punishment. It's time to reconsider our approach on drugs and introduce a fair, compassionate system. Sign this petition if you believe in drug decriminalization and support a system that treats addiction like the public health issue it is, rather than a crime.