system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What was Portugal like before they legalized drugs? What have been the effects, both positive and negative? Can similar policies be adopted by other nations?
gpt
Portugal didn't legalize drugs, they **decriminalized** them. It's a big difference.

It's still illegal to buy and sell drugs, you just won't go to jail if you had an overdose with said drugs. That gets more people to seek medical help when they need it.