John Legend: ‘American lawmakers should adopt Portugal’s drug legislation’

John Legend is hoping his vote in the upcoming U.S. election will help change drug laws in America.
In a new video filmed for Vevo’s Why I Vote series, the singer opens up about his mother’s history of substance abuse, and why he thinks it’s time for lawmakers to adopt Portugal’s drug laws.
Legend’s mum Phyllis turned to drugs to help her cope with the death of her mother, and was arrested several times, but John insists she just needed help.
“We both agree that when people are going through those kinds of issues, they really need help; they don’t need to be locked up,” he says. “They need counselling. They need drug treatment.”
And he hopes America’s next leader takes a closer look at how other countries, like Portugal, deal with drug problems.
The European nation’s lawmakers have decriminalised drugs and they treat substance abuse as a public health issue, offering programs that help people instead of locking them up.
“All those decisions to lock people up (for drug use and abuse) are being made in our name because we’re voters and we decide who’s in charge,” he explains. “We have to use that decision and make it wisely, and we have to exercise our right to vote.
“A lot of people protested and fought, bled and died so that everyone in this country, every citizen over the age of 18 would have the right to vote.”
Americans go to the polls on 8 November (16), when Democrat Hillary Clinton will face off against Republican Donald Trump.