'Decriminalise consumption of drugs to cure Udta Punjab'

A leading independent think-tank involved in legal research strongly recommended that India should decriminalise drug consumption
India Today (India)
Thursday, August 23, 2018

As Punjab, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam battle rampant drug abuse among its populace, a leading independent think-tank involved in legal research strongly recommended that India should decriminalise drug consumption. A report released by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy said that harsh punishments like 10 years of imprisonment has only been counter-productive. The report titled 'From Addict To Convict' is based on an analysis of 13,350 cases registered in Special Courts in Punjab under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act between 2013 and 2015 and indepth field work and research. It said the present policy in India centered on criminalisation to curb drug addiction has failed to curb traffickers and ended up targeting users and addicts.