From the guidelines, I guess you could consider this post off-topic. It's political and hardly a new phenomenon.
However, I enjoy very much reading posts here that are not about technology but "gratifies one's intellectual curiosity".
If caught consuming (under a certain amount), the drug will be apreend and you can be required to present yourself before a comitte formed by a lawyer, a doctor and a social worker. It's possible to be fined but that it's not the primary objective.
Why is this downvoted? The statement is correct. You can argue if it's the main problem, but it's certainly a problem. The countries in the Euro zone cannot print their own money at will.
I believe trade agreements with the US prevent full legalization. Portugal decriminalization act was carefully drawn not to break any of this treaties.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this was not the case when the laws were originally passed in those countries. I.e. the original passage in decades past were not due to these trade pressures.