Decriminalization of drugs by the STF is a ‘serious mistake’, says Pacheco

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), criticized the possibility of decriminalizing the possession of drugs for personal consumption by decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). In the plenary session, this Wednesday (2), Pacheco said that it would be a “serious mistake” if the STF decides on this matter.

“From the conception of the Anti-Drug Law, there was also a political option to foresee the crime of drug trafficking with the penalty associated with it, and also to foresee the criminalization of the possession for drug use”, he affirmed.

Pacheco classified decriminalization, without discussion in Congress and without the creation of public health programs, as an “invasion of the competence of the Legislative Power”. According to the senator, it is exclusively up to the National Congress to discuss the issue, and a decision by the STF cannot be contrary to the current law.

“By allowing or legalizing the possession of drugs for personal use, who will you buy the drug from? From a drug dealer, who commits a very serious crime that is equivalent to heinous”, she said.

He demanded that STF ministers understand the role of the political arena and stated that Congress is “working hard” for the good of the country.

The discussion in the STF on the decriminalization of possession for personal consumption began in 2015 and has been at a standstill since then, being resumed this Wednesday (2), with Moraes voting in favor of decriminalization. The Court judges the action of a man caught with 3 grams of marijuana inside a prison. The Public Defender’s Office alleges that criminalization interferes excessively with private life, stigmatizes dependents and does not contribute to reducing the damage caused to public health.