In Portugal they can't buy drugs legally. So they need to resort to black market, just like anywhere else, except countries where weed is legal from authorized vendors. If you're caught with heroin, I understand the government makes an intervention, confiscating the substance and forcing you into some rehab program. Of course better than jail, but still far from walking into a bar and, no joke, asking for a beer.
As an aside, could somebody (specially someone with specific knowledge) enlighten me about the difference with Spain? Here possesion of weed was legalized in the eighties (though later re-punished in public with a fine and confiscation) and possesion in general was decriminalized while it's an amount small enough to assume it's for own use.
Has the situation in Portugal really improved there because of legal status or because rehab programs receiving proper funding? Or even economic upturn?
It's certainly possible but if we look at countries like Portugal people actually consume less drugs now than before the decriminalization.
https://beckleyfoundation.org/2018/04/23/lessons-from-portug...