(UPDATE: MANY TRAVEL BOOKS SAY THAT GREECE HAS NO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WITH OPIATES IN THEM AND THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO BRING THEM TO GREECE AS WELL. THESE BOOKS ARE 100% WRONG. IF YOU HAVE A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR HOME DOCTOR OR FROM A GREEK DOCTOR..YOU ARE 100% LEGAL. IF YOU ARE ON IOS AND YOU FORGOT YOUR PAINKILLERS BACK HOME AND YOU ARE BUGGING OUT..NO WORRIES!! GO SEE DR. YIANNIS ON THE MAIN ROAD AND TELL HIM YOUR AILMENTS.)
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO IOS
WONDER IF THE RUMOURS OF IT BEING A WILD AND CRAZY PARTY ISLAND ARE TRUE. WELL,
IT IS DEFINITELY A PARTY ISLAND BUT DUE TO THE CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL DRUGS MANY
YEARS AGO...IOS WENT FROM AN ISLAND WITH DRUGS SOMEWHAT AVAILABLE TO A PLACE
THAT IS ALMOST TOTALLY DRY OF ANY PILLS, POT, OR POWDER. EXCEPT FOR THE TOURISTS
WHO RISK SMUGGLING IN STUFF THEMSELVES, MANY PARTIERS ON THE ISLAND HAVE TO
STICK TO ALCOHOL TO GET WASTED. HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM NORML.ORG:
Greek
law makes no distinction between hard and soft drugs, although an interesting
distinction that the law does make is between addicts and non-addicts. Drug use
is only an offense when the user is a non-addict. Addicts obtaining drugs for
personal use are compelled to treatment. An addict is defined as "any person
who, having succumbed to the habit of drug use, is incapable of overcoming it
without the help of specialized therapy." A specialist is enlisted by the court
to draw up a report on anyone accused of or claiming to be an addict. Dependent
users cannot be criminally prosecuted, but they are mandated to treatment for up
to one year at a detoxification center. Non-addicts acquiring drugs for personal
use is a crime punishable by two to five years of prison. The length of the
sentence depends on the amount of drugs obtained and/or possessed. Possession by
non-addicts with a view to use is not a specific offense, but it is covered
indirectly under the laws of acquisition. Trafficking through negligence results
in up to one year imprisonment while trafficking given aggravating circumstances
carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE
WAY OR ANOTHER YOU CAN GO TO JAIL JUST FOR SMOKING A SPLIFF WITH YOUR MATES. I
RECOMMEND THAT YOU STAY CLEAN WHILE YOU ARE IN GREECE. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO DO
DOPE, PLEASE TRY AND KEEP IT OUT OF VIEW. I SEEN SOME KIDS SMOKING POT AT FAR
OUT BEACH IN FRONT OF EVERYONE WITH BIG, DUMB SMILES ON THEIR FACES. LITTLE DID
THEY KNOW THAT AN UNDERCOVER COP THAT LOOKED LIKE A 17 YEAR OLD BUSTED SOME
BLOKE DOING THE SAME THING THE WEEK BEFORE AND THEN RAIDED HIS ROOM AND
CONFISCATED A WHOLE KILO OF LOW GRADE SMOKE. IF YOU SMOKE POT, DO IT ON YOUR
BALCONY OR EVEN BETTER INSIDE YOUR ROOM. CHANCES ARE, THE HOTEL OWNER WANTS YOU
TO HAVE FUN AND WILL NOT SNITCH ON HIS CUSTOMERS ANYWAY. IF YOU DO HARDER DRUGS,
MAKE SURE YOU DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND HAVE THE EMERGENCY ROOM PHONE NUMBER ON
YOU AS WELL. TRY NOT TO CARRY STUFF AROUND THE ISLAND AS YOU PARTY. BELIEVE ME,
THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS CALL YOUR PARENTS TO TELL THEM YOU ARE SPENDING
THE REST OF YOUR VACATION IN JAIL. REMEMBER, UNDERCOVERS AND THEIR INFORMANTS
ARE ON THE PROWL.