The war on drugs in South Africa, as in the US, has in no way reduced the supply or the demand of drugs. And without a doubt it’s led to an increase in the harms associated with drugs as users once incarcerated and left with a criminal record become increasingly marginalised. The majority of those apprehended were either in possession of, or using, a drug called “whoonga”. Decriminalisation of drug use and possession sounds radical and counter-intuitive, but the evidence from Portugal speaks for itself, says Monique Marks. (See also: Whoonga is the cruelest high)